JULY POWER RATE UP SLIGHTLY AS SUMMER RATES CONTINUE

The power rate from Athens Utilities Board (AUB) for the coming month of July will increase from the current $0.09105 to $0.09282 cents per kilowatt hour as TVA’s “summer rates” continue.

“This is the second month of the summer rate season in TVA’s nomenclature.  So, the difference in the July rate from June’s rate is all about the fuel cost adjustment from TVA,” said AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough.

TVA’s summer rate period runs from June through September, and represents the highest base rate of the year.

The fuel charge for July is $0.02001 per kilowatt hour compared to $0.01824 in June.

“Just as with last month, the summer base rate and fuel cost adjustment from TVA have our power rate at just over nine cents per kilowatt hour,” Scarbrough said.

“Most everyone’s bill goes up considerably during the heat of summer, just as it does during colder winter months.  Air conditioners and fans begin running on overtime to keep your place cool, and that drives your bill up,” he said.

“We’re starting to see those summertime temperatures now, so it’s time to plan for the weeks ahead when the upper 80s and into the 90s become the norm.”

To ease the sticker shock of summertime cooling 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 cooled air throughout the house.

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