Editor’s note: Do you want answers to questions about the Golden Triangle? Each week, Dispatch reporters set out to explain or update a timely, practical issue. Email your question to [email protected].
Electric bills are rising across the Golden Triangle starting this fall, with the Tennessee Valley Authority announcing it will raise the wholesale price to provide power to its member utilities by 4.5% starting Oct. 1.
Also, a three-year COVID-19 pandemic credit that provided relief for some TVA utilities is expiring.
In response, Columbus Light and Water, Starkville Utilities and 4-County Electric Power Association have all announced rate increases of their own.
But how much will your bill increase? That depends on where you live, and more importantly, how much power you use.
New rates
Each utility company charges for power based on two rates – the base customer rate that is the same for every user and the usage rate that charges by the kilowatt hour.
In the cases of CLW and 4-County, they are only raising their usage rates.
CLW announced its rate change would increase the average customer bill by 2.8%. The utility’s average residential power bill, General Manager Angela Verdell told The Dispatch, is $177.44, meaning that bill could expect to rise $4.97.
At 4-County, Public Relations and Marketing Director Jon Turner said the average monthly bill of roughly $116 per month should rise by $5.65.
At Starkville Utilities, it’s a tad more complicated. There will be a 4.4% increase to the usage charge, and all bills will see a $1 per month increase to the base customer charge. General Manager Edward Kemp said this will not only cover the TVA increases, but it will also help the utility’s operations keep up with inflation.
The average power bill in Starkville, which Kemp estimated at $102.97, will increase by $5.56 per month assuming the same usage patterns.
Usage charge changes at all three utilities will be reflected on customers’ November bills. SUD’s base customer charge will take effect in November and will be reflected on bills customers receive in December.
How often does this happen?
Again, that depends on where you are.
CLW last increased its power rates in 2018. This is 4-County’s first increase since 2014. At SUD, the last local rate increase was in 2009.
While Kemp said he believes this increase could “carry us for a bit,” Turner said a base customer charge increase at 4-County could be “on the table” in the near future.
Will my utility company help me use less power?
CLW, 4-County and SUD participate in TVA-sponsored programs to help customers save on their energy bills.
All three offer free energy audits of residential customers’ homes to assess how they can be more efficient. All three also offer tools on their websites, and both CLW and SUD offer public energy workshops.
Kemp said SUD’s next round of free energy workshops will run between Oct. 18-20. The sessions will be about an hour each and target youth and adults. He said exact times and locations are still being determined.
“We’re hoping to do a lot of venues and a lot of different times of day,” he said.
Workshop participants will receive a kit, worth about $40, with materials like caulk, weather stripping and LED light bulbs.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion