Increase in Power Cost Adjustment

From eggs to gasoline, the price of everything is on the rise. And power costs, unfortunately, have not been immune to this trend.

Beginning in September, you may have noticed an increase in the PCA line item on your bill. The Power Cost Adjustment, or PCA, is the tool used to adjust the amount of funds collected to pay for the fluctuating cost of power. While the PCA usually adds little to no cost to your bill, in September the PCA will increased from $.001 to $.02, resulting in an additional $20 per 1,000 kWhs used. This is not a permanent rate increase. This is a direct pass-through of the actual cost of the energy Tri-County EMC needs to serve you.

Natural gas our largest fuel source for electricity generation. For many years, our members have benefited from low natural gas prices – resulting in a negative PCA for the past 5 years. But in today’s world of inflation and unrest, energy prices are volatile. Prices of natural gas have risen to levels we have not seen in more than 10 years. Coal is not readily available due to regulations and shipping constraints. And solar resources do not provide enough energy to meet the needs of our hot summer peaks. All of these factors result in significant increases to the cost of providing electric service to the homes and businesses we serve. We do our best to soften the blow to our members through wise financial planning and management, but these recent increases in cost are simply beyond our control.

Tri-County EMC uses a diverse mix of fuel sources for electricity, which helps reduce costs. Our electricity is generated from a mix of natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar and hydro. This fuel mix helps reduce dramatic fluctuations in energy cost.

As always, we will continue to keep a close watch on fuel costs in the coming months and adjust the PCA accordingly to reflect the most accurate fuel prices. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Tri-County EMC is committed to bringing safe, reliable electrical service at a reasonable cost to benefit our members.

What is the PCA?
The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is a monthly adjustment that adjusts for any differences in the base cost of wholesale power.  If the kWh cost to Tri-County EMC is lower than the base cost of power, the PCA is applied as a credit on your bill. If the kWh cost is higher than the base cost of power, it results in a charge on the bill. Having the PCA is a benefit for members because adjustments can be made on an as needed basis without continually adjusting electric rates.

 

How Can I Conserve Energy and Save on My Bill?

Everyone is looking for ways to save energy right now. Luckily, we are heading into the fall months of milder weather, which will help lower the amount of energy used. For additional information on ways to save energy in your home, we recommend you use our online energy efficiency center to learn ways to save. 

Energy Conservation Tips:
https://www.tri-countyemc.com/energy-saving-tips.cms

 

If you need additional assistance, we recommend contacting the Community Action Agency in your area:
Jones & Twiggs Counties:
Middle Ga Community Action Agency
478.922.4464
http://mgcaa.org/

Bibb County:
Macon Bibb Economic Opportunity Council
478.738.3240
https://www.maconbibbeoc.com/ default.aspx

Putnam, Baldwin, Jasper, Morgan & Wilkinson Counties:
Overview, Inc.
478.453.4111
http://overviewinc.com/

Morgan County:
Action, Inc.
706.546.8293
https://actionathens.org/

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