For Information:
Erica Erland, Director of Communications
and Corporate Citizenship
360-992-3238, [email protected]
Dameon Pesanti, Public Information Officer
360-992-3349, [email protected]
CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES ELECTRIC RATES TO INCREASE MARCH 1
14% average adjustment to offset increased cost of power supply, rates last changed in 2011
VANCOUVER, WA – January 23, 2024 – The Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a 14% average electric service rate increase across all customer classes, effective March 1, 2024.
The utility is an at-cost, nonprofit public utility and rates have not changed since 2011. This adjustment is required to balance the 2024 budget which included higher power supply costs due to increasingly frequent extreme weather events and compliance with carbon reduction and renewable energy requirements. Notably, the high cost of providing energy during the recent extreme winter weather of January 12-19 added $26 million to the utility’s 2024 net operating costs.
“Nearly 70 cents of every dollar spent by this utility is allocated to generating or purchasing, and transmitting energy,” said Clark Public Utilities Commission President Jim Malinowski. “These costs continue to rise and are increasingly volatile with more frequent weather events, both hot and cold, and regulatory constraints.”
Both the fixed basic and the per kilowatt-hour usage charges will increase for residential and some commercial customers. Industrial and most commercial customers will maintain basic charges last set in 2011, with adjusted per kilowatt-hour and demand charges as determined by the cost of service analysis rebalancing model for 2024 and 2025.
Effective March 1, 2024 electric rates for each customer class will be:
• Residential Basic Charge – $19/month and Energy Charge – $0.0879/kWh
• Commercial Schedules 33, 34, 36 and 38 Basic Charge – $35/month, Energy Charge – $0.0833/kWh and Demand Charge – $9.29/kW-month (> 30kW)
• Commercial Schedule 134 Basic Charge – $58/month, Energy Charge – $0.0500/kWh and Demand Charge – $9.29/kW-month
• Commercial Schedule 234 Basic Charge – $58/month, Energy Charge – $0.0485/kWh and Demand Charge – $9.02/kW-month
• Industrial Schedule 185 Basic Charge – $200/month, Energy Charge – $0.0500/kWh and Demand Charge – $9.29/kW-month
• Industrial Schedule 285 Basic Charge – $200/month, Energy Charge – $0.0490/kWh and Demand Charge – $9.02/kW-month
• Industrial Schedule 385 Basic Charge – $200/month, Energy Charge – $0.0480/kWh and Demand Charge – $6.27/kW-month
“I’m proud that this utility’s methodical budget practices and fiscal discipline held rates stable for more than 12 years,” Malinowski said. “This adjustment was forecasted in the budget process and necessary to continue meeting our financial obligations while providing the exceptional level of service our customers expect and appreciate.”
Customers struggling to pay energy bills are encouraged to call 360-992-3000 to speak with a Customer Service Representative about the variety of financial assistance and energy conservation programs, and flexible payment arrangements.
About Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility that provides electric service to more than 235,000 customers throughout Clark County. The utility also provides water service to about 41,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas. More information at 360-992-3000 or www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
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