Rate FAQs
The change to your electric bill will be determined by your individual use patterns and weather patterns (temperature). All residential members will see a change in the monthly service availability fee, which will increase $2, from $28 to $30.
Residential members will also see a change in the kWh price from $0.0890 to $0.1025, which is a $0.0135 per kWh change. Typically, Central members use more kWh in the summer and winter than in the spring and fall. Therefore, you will see a larger increase during the hotter and colder months.
These changes will go into effect on April 1, 2025.
Overall, costs continue to increase.
- Increased power costs – Approximately 65% of Central’s operating costs are for purchasing power. Central’s power provider announced a rate increase of 7% effective April 2025.
- Increased distribution costs – Equipment and material costs also continue to increase. For example, the cost of transformers, poles and enclosures have all increased more than 100% in less than four years. Other things, like billing, software, labor and financing also continue to increase.
The service availability fee is a fixed charge on your electric bill each month that is designed to recover a portion of Central’s fixed costs. These costs include distribution and generation capacity, line maintenance and system improvements, and costs for billing, member services and administration. For Central members to be charged an equitable rate no matter what rate class in which they belong, the cooperative must recover a portion of its fixed costs through the service availability fee. The fee is designed to ensure that one rate class does not subsidize another class and that all members pay their fair share of the cooperative’s costs.
The primary backbone of fiber is constructed to help increase reliability through smart grid development and prepare for the future of demand response and energy management solutions. Offering fiber to the home services through a subsidiary is designed to help offset this investment.
In 2023, Central had the second lowest rates among Oklahoma rural electric cooperatives and will continue to be one of the lowest. Electric rate increases are happening across the nation, and Oklahoma currently ranks as the 9th lowest in electric rates.
Although all signs are pointing to prices continuing to increase, Central does not project another rate increase for a couple of years. However, there are several factors that go into evaluating the need for rate adjustments which can change over time.
Residential rates increased in April 2024. Results from member surveys show that members prefer smaller, more frequent rate adjustments rather than one large rate adjustment. The board has kept this in mind when evaluating rates, which is why smaller rate adjustments have taken place during the past couple of years.
We continually re-evaluate how we operate to ensure the most cost- and time-efficient methods are in use. We’ve minimized increases thus far by increasing our productivity and staying up to date on technology that helps us be more efficient.
One of the best ways to keep your energy costs low is to ensure your home is energy efficient. Central offers home energy audits to its members and rebates on energy efficient appliances. Central also offers several energy efficiency tips and resources throughout the year via its website and monthly newsletter. Energy conservation can also be accomplished by implementing several small things that add up, such as:
• Turning off lights and ceiling fans in rooms that are not being used.
• Adjusting your thermostat up two to three degrees in the summer and down in the winter.
• Opening your blinds and curtains during the day and closing them at night.
The Department of Energy provides great resources on energy saving tips.