Effective with Consumer-member billings that begin on July 1, Flint Energies’ residential base charge will move from $30 per month to $31 per month. The base charge change, originally scheduled to go into effect April 1, 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This change continues an initiative that’s been underway for several years to gradually align the monthly service charge with the fixed costs of operating the electric system. The increase equals $12 for one year of service, the average cost of one lunch meal.

“As a local, not-for-profit electric cooperative, we’re committed to providing reliable service at an affordable cost,” says Flint Energies Vice President of Cooperative Communications Marian McLemore. “Our primary goal is to minimize the effects of potential increases while maintaining our high standard of safe, continuous service to our Members. We work to reduce expenses and look for new ways to operate more efficiently to help control costs for all Members. While the base charge is moving to better match fixed costs, our Board also works aggressively to share the benefits of cheaper natural gas and energy through the monthly Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA). Last year, the WPCA reduced member bills by $3.7 million.”

Flint updates its cost of service calculation every two years; it offers a direct and accurate reflection of current expenses. The base charge, or access fee, covers the costs of operating the Cooperative and delivering power. It also includes covering the co-op’s cost to maintain more than 6,800 miles of electric lines and 53 substations, while providing 24/7 service and an outage reporting system. The computed cost of providing service to a residential location is more than $33 per month. The base charge averages to slightly more than a dollar a day. The kilowatt-hour charge for all residential rates will remain unchanged. The wholesale power cost adjustment rider, which can change monthly, fluctuates based on the costs to generate power.

Base rate changes will also be in effect for the other rate schedules which have been billed at $30 per month. Those rate schedules will be billed at $31 per month and will affect approximately 900 non-residential accounts. General service non-demand accounts will be billed at $33 per month.  All changes will start April 1. Members may compare current residential rates online at the Georgia Public Service Commission website: www.psc.state.ga.us/electric/surveys/residentialrs.asp.

Prepaid Electricity

Nearly 10,500 Flint Energies Members have opted for the Pay Your Way prepaid service. Increasing popularity of this pay-in-advance, no deposit electric account has led to increasing costs to administer the program, known as Pay Your Way. As a result, the monthly base charge for prepaid accounts will increase by $1 per month. Pay Your Way accounts receive a daily allocation of the base charge that will rise from $1.07 per day to $1.10 per day, plus taxes.

Option for Low Income

Members who are approved for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can be placed on Flint’s low-income rate. After April 1, Consumer-members that confirm their LIHEAP standing with a check payment will be eligible for a reduced monthly base service charge of $15.50 per month. LIHEAP is administered by the local Community Action Agencies.