CURRENT COMMENTS - Southern Rivers Energy

SRE Introduces New Rate Structure
T
he energy industry is facing unprecedented challenges,
and we at Southern Rivers Energy are doing
everything we can to keep you informed of the issues.
We stay in close contact with elected officials in our
service area to make sure they understand the full
impact proposed energy-related legislation will have on
their constituents—our members back home. We are
constantly searching for new ways to help you better
manage your energy use so you can save money on
your bill. We work very hard to keep our operating
costs low to help offset the fixed costs—wholesale
power costs—we have no control over.
Why do we do all this? The reason is simple:
because co-ops look out for their members. Without
you, we wouldn’t exist. We are here to supply you with
the best and most affordable electric service possible
while contributing to the success of the communities we
serve. That’s it. Many of us are members of this co-op or
a neighboring co-op. All of these issues affect us at
home, the same as you.
We have informed you of the unpredictable fuel
prices that affect the cost of purchased power—coal,
natural gas and uranium. Because these prices fluctuate
so much, it is necessary to conduct a cost-of-service
study every few years to determine what our actual
costs are and whether our rates are reflecting those
costs accurately.
Our recent study revealed that our current rate
structure needed to be revised in order to distribute
the cost of power to our members on a more equitable
basis. As an not-for-profit electric cooperative,
everyone using our services must pay their share of
New Rates for Outdoor Lights
Summer Rates Are in Effect
(June-September)
Present Revised
Customer Charge $20.00 $27.50
First 800 kWh $ 0.0800 $ 0.0935
Over 800 kWh $ 0.0975 $ 0.1175
PCA Factor $ 0.0200 –$ 0.005
Sample Bill @ 1,200 kWh (average usage)
Base charge $123.00 $149.30
PCA $ 24.00 –$ 6.00
Total $147.00 $143.30
Difference $ 3.70 or –2.52%
the cost of operating it.
In your June bill, you will receive a special
insert that explains in detail what makes up
Southern Rivers Energy’s rates. Please read through
this important brochure and let us know if you
have any questions. In the new rate structure above,
you will see a separate line item called “PCA.” This
refers to the Power Cost Adjustment, which is a variable
built into the rate structure in order to “adjust” the rates
charged to members when the price of fuels to generate
electricity (primarily coal and natural gas) rise and fall
over time, as well as the cost of materials and other factors
that may affect the price of providing power. Using
the PCA helps avoid large, permanent rate adjustments.
The PCA will now be a separate line item on your bill.
Outdoor lighting prices and our fees have also been revised as a result of the cost of service study:
100-watt
High Pressure
Sodium Yard Light (shown)
175-watt
Mercury Vapor
$10
250-watt
High Pressure
Sodium BIA
$18
400-watt
Metal Halide Flood
$25
250-watt
High Pressure
Sodium Gray Cobra
$18
For a complete list of lights and pricing please visit our Web site, www.southernriversenergy.com.
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