Page 4


NORTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.


March 2017 Rate increase takes effect with April bill M


aintaining dependable service at an affordable price remains the cornerstone of a coop-


erative’s business. To maintain the reliability, quality, and affordability of the services NWEC provides to our members, it is sometimes necessary to adjust our prices. As mentioned in the February newsletter, NWEC will be implementing an overall rate increase of 2.93 percent that will apply begin- ning with the April 2017 billing. As part of this task, we have re- cently reviewed the results of a Rate Analysis and Cost of Service Study prepared by C.H. Guernsey, an inde- pendent consulting group located in Oklahoma City. The study revealed Northwestern Electric’s rates were not adequate to cover our actual cost of service. The slowdown in economic growth, milder weather, changes to our power costs from Western Farm- ers, and increases in insurance, labor and materials all contributed to the need for an adjustment to the rates. The study was based on the 2015 fis-


cal year. (The 2017 ice storm is not reflected in this adjustment.) Although the effect of the increase on your bill will vary depending upon the type and extent of usage, the aver- age monthly increase per residential customer will be approximately five percent or less than $6.00. The resi- dential customer charge will increase by $3.50 per month. Customer charge related costs are those that are required simply to have the member’s service in place regardless of the size of the load or the amount of energy required. For example, the cost to maintain the line, read a meter, or provide customer service, is the same whether the mem- ber uses any electricity or not.


This


assures all NWEC member-owners are treated fairly. We also adjusted the fuel component of member bills to more accurately reflect today’s fuel prices. The CCA will also be reset to zero for the next twelve month period. To the extent the CCA is required in the future to maintain the Coopera- tive’s financial condition, it will be


re-evaluated. The Consumer Cost Adjustment is a factor applied to the monthly kWh that allows your cooper- ative to maintain the required financial ratios established by the Board of Directors and our lenders. Northwestern Electric offers many programs such as energy audits to identify opportunities for homeowners to reduce power usage and increase efficiency. In addition, we offer an av- erage monthly payment that averages monthly costs in order to reduce the impact to members during high usage months. (6162003)


If you have any questions or con- cerns regarding the implementation of this rate adjustment, we encourage you to call our offices in Woodard at 580.256.7425 or 800.375.7423 and ask to speak with Sheri Hayes, Jamie Ruble, or Kaylie Cole in the billing department. We will do our best to answer your questions and we look forward to working with you on ways you may be able to reduce your monthly bill.


New Energy Charge by Class


Farm and Residential Accounts The monthly customer charge will change from $25.00 to $28.50 for single-phase service, and from $35.00 to $38.50 for three-phase. Most farm and residential services are single-phase. The new energy charge is as follows: Energy Charge $.107200 per kWh


Irrigation Accounts


The kWh charge will change from $.133780 to $.15000 per kWh. The monthly minimum charge of $1.25 per kVa of transformer capacity will remain the same. The irrigation conservation discount of $.25 per kVa will also stay the same. The new energy charges are as follows: Conservation Energy Charge .015000 per kWh


Optional Irrigation Time of Use Energy Charge


$.25000 per on-peak kWh $.09600 per off-peak kWh


Commercial /Small Power Accounts The customer charge will change from $30.00 to $36.00 for single-phase service, and from $40.00 to $46.00 for three-phase service.


The optional Small Commercial time-of-use customer charge will change from $40.00 to $46.00 for single-phase service, and from $50.00 to $56.00 for three-phase service. The energy charge for on-peak kWh will stay the same at $.35600 per kWh and off-peak will change from $.08930 to $.08900 per kWh. The new energy charges are as follows: Energy Charge $.107200 per kWh


Optional Small Commercial Time of Use


$.35600 per on-peak kWh $.08900 per off-peak kWh


The new standard rate schedule for lighting service will be as follows: Mercury Vapor Light 175 Watt................................$9.75 250 Watt..............................$13.50 400 Watt..............................$16.65 High Pressure Sodium Light 100 Watt................................$9.00 250 Watt..............................$15.05 400 Watt..............................$20.75 1000 Watt............................$39.90 LED Light 40 Watt..................................$9.75 70 Watt................................$14.15 Metal Halide Light 250 Watt..............................$14.15 400 Watt..............................$19.35 1000 Watt............................$34.58


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124