Geneva considers flat yearly fee for electricity

Geneva might eliminate the difference between summer and winter electrical rates, under a proposal the city council will discuss Monday.

Users would pay a flat fee all year long. According to a memo, the average residential customer shouldn't end up paying any more or less on that portion of their bill.

If the council adopts the plan, the changes would take effect July 1.

Geneva charges a higher rate for electricity June, July, August and September. For residential customers, in the summer it charges 11.535 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 500 kWh each month, and 9.981 cents per kWh for everything after that. Winter rates are 9.308 cents and 8.065 cents, respectively.

The proposed flat rate would be 11.392 cents for the first 500 kWh, and 10.055 cents for the rest.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that in 2012, Illinois households used 767 kWh per month on average. Using that figure, the energy portion of the monthly bill would be $86.50.

The proposal also calls for splitting industrial users into two classes, based on what time of day they demand most of their electricity. It calls for rolling the monthly power cost adjustment factor into the base rate. The power cost adjustment is done monthly based on what the city paid for power the month before vs. what it had expected to pay for power.

The changes were recommended after the city had a consultant study the cost of service, and revenues received, for the five classes of customers it serves.

The committee meets at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall, 22 S. First St.