Palmer, AK –Starting the new year, members with typical electricity usage will see roughly no overall change in their rates.  MEA’s Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) is decreasing by about 4.45% from the previous quarter, which is subject to RCA review and approval. This COPA decrease is being offset by a 2.5% increase in base rates, which took effect January 1,2023, and was approved by the RCA.  A typical MEA member consumes approximately 673 kWh per month and can expect to see roughly no change to their monthly bill due to these first quarter rate revisions.

The COPA and base rate components of rates are filed for RCA approval separately and fluctuate independently with actual costs. The COPA component of rates primarily includes fuel and purchased power costs, while the base rate component (consisting of the “energy” and “demand” charges) includes the bulk of the other costs necessary to bring power to our co-op members’ homes and businesses. MEA’s Board of Directors voted to increase base rates in the first quarter of 2023 by 2.5% due to inflationary increases to the cost of bringing power to members’ homes and businesses.

MEA may file limited base rate increases or decreases on a quarterly basis, provided the adjustments stay within certain financial parameters established by the RCA. All rates are subject to a variety of factors including member electric use, weather, inflation, and other economic factors.

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