JACKSON, Wyo. — Lower Valley Energy (LVE) cooperative members’ October energy bills will look a little bit different.
A new rate structure was approved by LVE’s board in July. Changes taking effect on Oct. 1 include:
- an updated monthly base charge
- an unchanged energy charge of 6.2 cents per kilowatt-hour
- a new “demand charge” for residential, small commercial and small irrigation members, aligning with the way large commercial and irrigation members have been billed
The base charge will be determined by the member’s highest monthly demand from the previous 12 months of bills. This might represent a lower charge for certain users. According to LVE’s July announcement, the demand charge is based on each member’s highest consecutive 15-minute period of electricity use during the monthly billing cycle “and helps more closely align the cost of providing electric service with how members use the electric system.”
Members can monitor their monthly demand through SmartHub, available on their online LVE account. They can also use LVE’s online Bill Estimation Calculator to compare previous bills with the new structure.
“Overall electric revenues will increase by approximately 6%,” LVE’s July press release states. “The impact on individual member bills will vary based on each member’s energy use and peak demand. … The approved changes reflect the rising cost of providing electric service, including increases in wholesale power costs from the Bonneville Power Administration, inflation affecting equipment, materials, and operating expenses, as well as the continued investment required to maintain, replace, and improve the electric system.”
Rates were bumped up by 2% at the beginning of the year, marking the third time the utility company had raised the cost of electric service since October of 2024. Before that, electric rates had not been increased since 2017.
“These updates continue our transition toward a rate structure that more closely reflects how members use the electric system, while providing the revenue needed to responsibly maintain and improve the infrastructure that serves our communities,” CEO Bear Prairie said in the press release.
