LOCAL POWER RATES FALL SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST

ATHENS, Tenn. – As summer temperatures take full hold in the Tennessee Valley, local electric power rates will get a bit of relief in August and will fall back below nine cents per kilowatt hour.

The AUB residential power rate for August will be $0.08944 per kilowatt hour compared to July’s rate of $0.09032.

“That’s pretty steady, and that’s good when the rates stay steady.  It’s really good for all of our customers to see the power rate falling a bit during the hottest run of the summer season,” said AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough.

July was the first time since January of this year that the rate exceeded nine cents for a kilowatt hour of power.

August is the third of four “summer rate” months, as the summer base rate continues through September.

“We really hope this lower trend continues for our customers, particularly during this tough economic time.  Maybe we should all do a little rain dance, as more rain and increased hydro power through the regional dams can certainly help us on the rate front,” Scarbrough said.

AUB reminds all customers that while it continues to offer power, water, natural gas, and wastewater services to everyone in the area, its lobby at AUB’s main office remains closed to the public.

“We are being careful.  More so now than ever.  Everyone at AUB is wearing masks and taking time for caution, and we urge everyone in the area to do the same for themselves and for their neighbors,” Scarbrough said.

About 83 cents of every dollar that AUB’s power division collects go to TVA for wholesale power.