Q&A For Cobb EMC Rate Increase
Frequently Asked Questions!
1. Why are you raising rates now?
Because we are a non-profit, we operate on very tight margins. Quite simply, rising costs for the wholesale power and other resources necessary to provide electricity to the community necessitated this increase.
2. Is the increase different for commercial customers? If so how?
Yes, the Small General Service commercial customers will see a slightly higher rate increase than residential customers. Large General Service rates will not be increased. Large Power increases vary per customer.
3. What is the actual percentage increase?
For more than 75% of Cobb EMC residential customers on the Standard Rate Plan, the average increase amounts to 4.36%. The over-all increase which includes all commercial and residential customers amounts to 5.06%.
4. Is this increase a result of your relationship with Cobb Energy?
Quite the contrary. The efficiency of operation afforded Cobb EMC through its affiliation with Cobb Energy is one reason that electric rates haven’t been increased for 15 years and co-op members will continue to reap benefits from the relationship.
5. Is the rate increase a result of lawsuits brought by some co-op members?
No. The increase is due to an over-all increase in the cost of providing electric service to our members. To the extent that these costs are not covered by our insurance policies, however, the legal expenses - like all of our other costs - will need to be factored into Cobb EMC’s budgeting going forward.