Flathead Electric Co-op won’t raise rates this year

The Flathead Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees announced Monday they have decided against any increase in the total rate revenue collected from members for the coming year. It’s the second year in a row the cooperative has not raised rates.

The board also approved a revenue-neutral change to the residential rate that includes a decrease in the energy charge (kWh) and an increase in the demand charge (kW), according to a press release.

Flathead Electric reported the co-op now pays a premium to its wholesale power provider, the Bonneville Power Administration, for power used during peak hours. As a result of this change, they advised residential members could see their bills decrease or increase if they have a higher demand during peak hours, from 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding weekends and major federal holidays). However, residential bills are only expected to fluctuate by less then 2 percent.

The demand charge is based on the highest demand measured during the co-op’s peak hours in each member’s billing cycle. Flathead Electric’s energy charge (the amount billed for each kilowatt hour (kWh) consumed) will decrease by 1.2% for the Block 1 energy charge (0-600 kWh), by 2.4% for the Block 2 energy charge (601-3,500 kWh) and by 2.4% for the Block 3 energy charge (3,501 kWh and above). These changes will be reflected on residential electric bills issued on or after June 1.

This change gives co-op members the ability to decrease their bill by shifting energy usage to off-peak hours, and/or avoiding the simultaneous use of large appliances during peak hours.

For more information, or to use Flathead Electric’s residential rate calculator to see exactly how this change will impact individual electric bills, visit www.flatheadelectric.com/demand.