Rate Increase Effective in November
This past month, each member received notification of an average 10-percent rate increase effective with the November billing statement. The increase is a result of the Bonneville Power Administration wholesale rate increase, a change to a tiered rate billing structure from BPA and increasing costs to the co-op for providing service.
The increased cost of wholesale power and the rising costs of equipment, materials, fuel, insurance and other expenses were all factors used in the cost-of-service and rate studies, which ultimately determined a rate increase was necessary.
While the actual monthly costs may vary from month to month depending on the number of kilowatt-hours consumed, the average residential member using 1,200 kWh will see a cost increase of $10.08 per month.
In these times of increasing energy costs, Wasco Electric is committed to helping its members control their costs through energy efficiency and conservation. Energy efficiency and conservation are among the lowest-cost resources for your cooperative and ways for you to lower your power bill.
We continue to offer free home weatherization audits and rebates for insulation and window upgrades. We offer rebates for replacing some of your older appliances, upgrading to an energy-efficient heat pump system and a duct-sealing program. We also offer energy-saving rebates for lighting upgrades in commercial businesses and several saving opportunities for our irrigated agriculture sector.
I encourage you to check out the Energy Efficiency tab on our home page for a complete listing of the programs your cooperative offers, as well as contact information to take advantage of these opportunities to save money.
Jeff Davis, General Manager
