Palmer, Alaska — Starting January 1, 2026, MEA members will notice a slight decrease in their total electric bills compared to last quarter.

The change comes mainly from a 6% drop in the Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) rate, which reflects the cost of fuel and power MEA purchases to serve members. A previously approved 2% base rate increase will also take effect this quarter, but the COPA decrease more than offsets that change, resulting in a small overall savings.

COPA rates are updated every quarter and filed with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) for review and approval. The 1Q 2026 COPA decrease is largely due to higher expected winter electricity usage, which helps spread fuel and purchased power costs across more kilowatt-hours sold.

Base rates recover MEA’s operating costs not included in COPA and are also updated quarterly. The 2% base rate increase, approved by the MEA Board of Directors and the RCA, reflects ongoing inflation and rising operational expenses.

What this means for members

• A typical member using about 642 kWh per month (MEA’s average usage benchmark) will see their average monthly bill decrease by $1.35, or 0.82% less than 4Q 2025.

MEA reviews rates each quarter to keep bills aligned with real costs, while following RCA-approved guidelines. MEA remains committed to delivering reliable, affordable electricity to its members while navigating the challenges of fluctuating fuel costs, purchased power contracts, and long-term energy planning.

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