Basin Weighs Rate Increase: What It Could Mean for HCE Members

At Hill County Electric, one of our responsibilities is keeping members informed about changes that may affect your electric bill.While nothing has been finalized yet, we want to share early news about discussions happening at Basin Electric Power Cooperative, one of our wholesale power suppliers.

Basin is currently evaluating a rate increase. The details are still being worked out, including whether it will be implemented all at once or phased in over several years. Once Basin makes its decision, our power supplier Central Montana Electric Power Coop will determine how much of that increase they can absorb and how much will be passed along to cooperatives like HCE.

What we do know is that an increase from Basin is coming, and it will ultimately affect all of our members. We had already anticipated a 7% increase in 2026, but depending on Basin’s final decision, the adjustment may need to be greater than originally planned

We share this information now because transparency is important to us. Our board and staff will carefully review the details as they become available, always with the goal of keeping rates as stable and affordable as possible while ensuring reliable service.

As your cooperative, you can count on us to keep you updated and to continue making decisions with your best interests at heart.