The new rate structure, the EmPOWERment Rate has three parts to make your total electric bill. The account charge covers operational costs to deliver service to each member. The energy charge and the peak charge are driven by your choices: How much power you use and when you use your heaviest energy load. By adjusting your energy use during peak hours, you can take advantage of low-cost energy and reduce your power bill.
The new residential and general service rates will be made up of the three components shown below and a power cost adjustment. The focus with this rate is not necessarily how much energy you use but when you use it.
Kilowatt-hours measure the total amount of energy used. The Peak Charge is shown in kilowatts and measures how fast the energy is used.
How to Save Money
Peak hours are determined by the times when electric demand is the highest across the state’s electric grid. These peaks occur on cold winter mornings and hot summer afternoons, when HVAC systems are working the hardest. When you use more energy in off-peak hours, we can reduce our overall share of the peak demand and pass those savings on to you.
Remember, the peak charge will only by applied to the single highest hour of usage that occurred during peak hours each month.
To help you maximize your savings, we've compiled a number of resources you can access as you prepare for the EmPOWERment rate. Our member service representatives are available to help you through this transition as well. Call us at 800-240-3400..
President and CEO, Jim Lovinggood, was recently a guest columnist for the Seneca Journal.
Click here to read his column.
