Upcoming Electric Rate Adjustment Effective April 1
Increase in the Cost of Power
As previously communicated in 2024 and 2025, our wholesale power providers (WAPA and Basin Electric) have informed us that the cost of power is expected to continue increasing in the years ahead. These rising wholesale power costs place ongoing financial pressure on Hill County Electric Cooperative (HCE) and directly impact the cost of providing reliable electricity to our members.
Why a Rate Change Is Necessary
Power supply is one of the expenses that HCE faces which cannot be disputed. As wholesale power costs increase, HCE must pass those increases to its members in order to remain financially sound and prepared for the future.
The upcoming rate adjustment allows HCE to:
- Spread rate increases gradually to help avoid a single, significant rate hike.
- Sustain essential system reliability upgrades.
- Continue our pole testing and replacement program to ensure safety and reliability.
- Upgrading from an obsolete AMI metering system to a new platform that will enhance service reliability, data quality, and future capabilities for our members.
HCE’s goal is to take small, predictable steps now rather than much larger steps later. This approach helps keep member rates as stable and affordable as possible over the long term.
Affected Rate Classes
|
Rate Class |
Current Rate |
4/1/26 Rate |
|
Rural Service (Rate Class 11) |
0.11165 |
0.1195 |
|
Annual Service (Rate Class 15) |
0.12474 |
0.1335 |
|
Irrigation (Rate Class 31) |
0.10655 |
0.1140 |
|
Small Commercial (Rate Class 41) |
0.11619 |
0.1243 |
|
Large Commercial (Rate Class 45) |
0.09448 |
0.1011 |
What Stays the Same
There will be no changes to monthly base charges as part of this rate adjustment.
When the Change Takes Effect
The new kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates for each class of service will take effect on April 1, 2026.
Assistance Is Available
If you need help managing energy costs, assistance programs to qualifying members are available through HRDC and HCE’s Energy Assistance Program. More information can be found at: https://hcelectric.com/my-account/energy-assistance
Our Commitment to Members
This decision was not made lightly by HCE’s Board of Trustees. We remain committed to keeping cooperative costs as low as possible while continuing to explore ways to mitigate rising power supply expenses. Our priority is to maintain a reliable electric system while serving the long-term interests of our members.