AUB Power Rates to Fall Slightly in September

Media Contact:

Wayne Scarbrough

(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002

wscarbrough@aub.org

LOCAL POWER RATES WILL DECREASE IN SEPTEMBER

ATHENS, Tenn. – Local electric power rates for September will fall compared to August based on lower generation fuel charges from TVA.

The residential power rate for Athens Utilities Board (AUB) customers in September will be $0.09038 per kilowatt hour compared to August’s rate of $0.09217.

The base rates for the two months are identical at $0.07456, as both are deemed “summer” rate months in TVA’s rate scheme.

“September is the last of the four summer season months in TVA’s rate scheme.  Next month, we will see the base rate drop a bit because October and November are deemed ‘transition’ months and carry the lowest base rates of the year,” said AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough.

The fuel charge for September is $0.01582 cents per kilowatt hour versus $0.01761 cents currently, he said.

The monthly base rate is combined with the monthly TVA fuel charge to determine the full, effective retail rate for customers for the period.

The fuel charge covers costs that TVA incurs in generating power, transporting fuel such as coal and gas, and many other costs related to wholesale power generation.  The charge rises or falls slightly each month commensurate with these generation costs.

“With the recent string of heat-advisory days and nominal overnight cooling, it’s nice to see the rate come down to help balance out high power use.  The largest influence on the amount of your bill is weather, heat and cold, so these very hot days are working air conditioners around the clock,” Scarbrough said.

The month-over-month change in rate will drop the bill of the average residential user of 1,200 kilowatt hours by $2.00, Scarbrough said.

Try these easy steps to decrease the sticker shock of summertime utility bills:

• Bump your thermostat to 75 degrees.  Sixty-nine degrees feels great, but it will result in considerably more energy use and a notably higher cooling bill.
• Check all doors and windows to ensure they are completely closed at all times.
• Use weather stripping on doors and windows to preserve cooled air.
• Use curtains, awnings, or other coverings for windows to reduce solar heat gain from the sun.
• Ceiling fans can help circulate conditioned air throughout the house.

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