Vermont Public Utility Commission Approves 14.19% Rate Increase for Washington Electric Cooperative

Strategic Insights -

The Vermont Public Utility Commission has approved a 14.19% rate increase for the Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) effective with service-rendered November 1, 2022. This decision follows a series of tariff filings and revisions by WEC, including a 12.83% rate increase approved by the Commission on May 19, 2023. The approved rate increase applies to various fees and charges, including energy usage rates, fixture installation, fixture equipment, and pole installation costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vermont Public Utility Commission approved a 14.19% rate increase for the Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) effective with service-rendered November 1, 2022.
  • The rate increase applies to various fees and charges, including energy usage rates, fixture installation, fixture equipment, and pole installation costs.
  • WEC had previously filed a 12.83% rate increase, which was approved by the Commission on May 19, 2023, and was applied to the energy usage rates and fixture installation, fixture equipment, and pole installation costs for the street lighting tariff and the account set-up fee, monthly maintenance fee, and meter equipment cost for the net-metering tariff.
  • The Hearing Officer issued an information request seeking comments on the ratemaking basis for applying the approved rate increase to the fixture installation, fixture equipment, and pole installation costs for the street lighting tariff and for the account set-up fee, monthly account maintenance fee, and meter equipment cost for the net-metering tariff.
  • WEC withdrew the two revised tariff sheets filed on June 21, 2023, and relied on the tariffs filed on June 1, 2023, indicating that it intends to petition to revise other tariffs in the near future and consult with the Department in the interim to address the public comment filed by Stephen Bushman on June 26, 2023.
  • The Department agreed with Mr. Bushman that WEC should have provided proper notice regarding its net-metering tariff and that the June 1 compliance tariffs accurately reflect the approved rate adjustments.

Statistics:

  • 14.19%: The approved rate increase for the Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) effective with service-rendered November 1, 2022.
  • 12.83%: The previously approved rate increase by the Vermont Public Utility Commission on May 19, 2023.
  • November 1, 2022: The effective date for the 14.19% rate increase.
  • 14, 2023: The date of the Hearing Officer's information request seeking comments on the ratemaking basis for applying the approved rate increase.
  • 21, 2023: The date WEC filed two revised tariffs, one for street lighting and one for net-metering.
  • 1, 2023: The date WEC filed compliance tariffs.
  • 19, 2023: The date the Vermont Public Utility Commission approved a 12.83% rate increase for WEC.
  • 23, 2023: The date the Department responded to the information request, agreeing with Mr. Bushman that WEC should have provided proper notice regarding its net-metering tariff.

Sources:

  • Vermont Public Utility Commission, Case No. 22-4100-TF Tariff filing of Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. for a 14.19% rate increase effective with service-rendered November 1, 2022.
  • Vermont Public Utility Commission, O RDER APPROVING TARIFF FILING, dated August 14, 2023.