As a member-owned cooperative, Meeker Energy exists for one reason: to provide you with reliable, affordable electricity today while responsibly planning for the future. Part of that responsibility is communicating early and clearly when changes are coming, especially when they affect your monthly bill.
After careful review and discussion, the Meeker Energy Board of Directors has approved an adjustment to the fixed charge for Residential and Seasonal rate classes. Beginning March 1, 2026, the fixed charge will increase from $46.50 to $56 per month.
I know that any increase is difficult news. No one welcomes higher costs, and your board and staff do not take this decision lightly. This column is meant to explain what the fixed charge is, why this adjustment is necessary, and how it helps ensure the long-term reliability of the electric system we all depend on.
What is a Fixed Charge?
Your electric bill is made up of two main parts: the energy charge and the fixed charge.
The energy charge reflects how much electricity you use during the month. When you conserve energy, this portion of your bill can go down.
The fixed charge, on the other hand, is not tied to how much electricity you use. It covers a portion of the cost of having electric service available to you 24 hours a day, every day of the year, whether you use one kilowatt hour or one thousand.
The fixed charge helps pay for the infrastructure and services required to deliver electricity safely and reliably, including poles, wires, transformers, substations, meters, system maintenance, billing, customer service, and emergency response. These costs exist regardless of usage, and they are necessary to keep the system ready whenever you flip a switch.
Why is the Fixed Charge Increasing?
Across the electric utility industry, the cost of providing reliable power continues to rise. This is not unique to Meeker Energy. From wholesale power generation and transmission to local delivery, cost pressures are coming from every direction. As these trends continue, upward pressure on rates is expected in the years ahead.
Our wholesale power providers are facing higher expenses driven by several factors. Aging infrastructure must be replaced to prevent failures and maintain safety. New generation and transmission projects are required to meet steady load growth from electric vehicles, modern agriculture, data centers, and expanding technology use. Materials like transformers, wire, breakers, and control equipment have increased dramatically in price over the past few years, in some cases by double digits or more.
At the same time, reliability standards have tightened. Utilities are now required to maintain higher reserve margins to ensure power is available during extreme weather and peak demand events. Maintaining that reliability comes with real costs.
The fixed charge adjustment helps ensure that the essential, always-present costs of operating the electric system are recovered in a stable and equitable way. It also reduces the need to rely as heavily on energy charges alone, which can fluctuate significantly based on weather and usage patterns.
Our Commitment to Members
As your cooperative, we remain committed to managing costs responsibly. We continue to work closely with our wholesale partners to phase in increases, when possible, advocate for thoughtful planning, and avoid sudden bill impacts. We also look internally for efficiencies and savings to keep rates as affordable as we can.
We will continue to communicate openly as we move forward. Additional information will be shared through the newsletter, bill inserts, and our website, and our team is always available to answer questions.