RATES COMPARED
Each year the residential rates of approximately 30 Oklahoma electric utilities are gathered and competitively ranked. While the survey includes the state’s large investor-owned utilities and a number of municipal providers, its respondents are primarily member-owned cooperatives similar to the Red River Valley Rural Electric Association (REA).
Results of the most recent survey have been released. And, in terms of winter rates, only nine utilities had charges lower than REA in 2013; nineteen had rates that were higher. Even more impressive is the summer comparison when only five utilities charged less than REA; twenty-three had rates that were higher. Overall, the survey revealed that REA had the lowest residential rates among fifteen cooperatives that share the same wholesale power supply.
BILLING QUESTIONS
Fluctuating electric bills have many causes – among the most common are temperature extremes and changes in occupancy. Because of their prevalence, REA has adopted the practice of acquiring and maintaining daily records of electricity use and associated weather. Any member who has difficulty understanding a change in his/her electricity use is encouraged to call the REA during business hours. Quite often, a review of the member’s daily use will uncover an explanation for any irregularity.
