‘Wascally’ Availability Charge

If you examine your electric bill, you might notice a line that details a service availability charge. This charge, unlike the other portions of your bill, stays the same whether you use zero electricity or hundreds of kilowatt-hours (kWh).

This is the amount we must charge to pay for the basic infrastructure needed to deliver electricity—from the wires that carry power to your house to the salaries of the employees who make our co-op run. There are also taxes, insurance and other costs to consider.

These are what we call fixed costs. The service availability charge is applied equally to everyone who receives electric service because even if you use zero kWh in a month, it still costs the co-op the same amount to maintain lines, read meters, and calculate and mail bills.

Take the example of Elmer Fudd. Mr. Fudd has a cabin he uses only when he’s hunting wabbits during the three months of wabbit season. The hunting cabin is on the same distribution line as another member, Bugs Bunny, who is a year-round resident of the area. They each pay the same monthly service fee, even though Mr. Fudd doesn’t use electricity for nine of those months.

After a storm hits, the distribution line is damaged. Mr. Bunny and Mr. Fudd both need that line to deliver electricity to their doorstep, and both help pay in the form of the service availability fee for its repair.

Mr. Bunny and Mr. Fudd use the line equally, and both pay equally for its upkeep. That way, when either needs electricity, it is there, just waiting for the flip of a switch.

We think applying this charge equally to all members is the fairest way to ensure everyone pays a share for building and maintaining our electric system.

I hope this has shed some light on this portion of your bill and explains why we apply the charge evenly to everyone.

As always, you can always call CECA at 800-915-2533 to receive further explanation or ask any other questions you might have.