Message From Your Cooperative — Pending Rate Changes

Dear Member,

Effective October 1, 2021, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) enacted a change in Clearwater Power’s electric rates. The purchase of wholesale energy (and the transmission of that energy) is the single largest expense to your cooperative. Other costs such as vehicles, material, maintenance, fuel, insurance, labor, and taxes have also increased. The BPA rate for transmission of power increased by 10%, while we received a fractional decrease in wholesale energy charges. In response to these and many other factors, your member-elected Board of Directors, made up of CPC members like yourself, has voted to modify the rate you pay for electric service. On average, we expect our members to see an increase of about 1.6%, although the change to individual bills may vary depending upon usage and rate class.

This modified rate structure is aimed at making electric bills more equitable by separating rates into three distinct charges: energy, demand (capacity), and the fixed charge. For residential customers, energy will decrease by 0.06 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), demand will be charged at 25 cents per kilowatt (kW) and the fixed charge (service availability) will increase by $1 per month. It has been two years since Clearwater Power adjusted rates. The new rates will go into effect with your January billing. Affected rate classes are listed below:

As you know, Clearwater Power is a not-for-profit utility owned by the people we serve. We strive to keep your rates affordable by being as efficient as possible while keeping your electric distribution system safe and reliable.

If you have any questions about your electric rates or anything else about your electric cooperative, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Weiss, President
K. David Hagen, General Manager/CEO