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Rates
At People's Energy, we strive to provide members with reliable electric service at fair and reasonable prices which meets or exceeds industry standards for availability, quality, and continuity. Rates at People’s Energy Cooperative reflect the true cost of generating and delivering electricity to members. These rates ensure dependable service, ongoing infrastructure improvements, and support for the cooperative’s long-term sustainability.
Rate Schedules
Includes information about current rates and the May 2026 Rate Increase.
| Rate | Current Rates | Effective May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Residential - Rural Includes: residential homes or apartments outside of an incorporated city | Basic Service Charge: $61.50/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $64.50/month Energy Charge: |
Residential - Urban Includes: residential homes or apartments within the boundaries of an incorporated city | Basic Service Charge: $41.00/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $43.00/month Energy Charge: |
All Electric - Single Phase
| Basic Service Charge: $61.50/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $64.50/month Energy Charge: |
Electric - Shared Well and/or Septic
| Basic Service Charge: $24.00/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $25.00/month Energy Charge: |
Optional Residential Demand Service
| Basic Service Charge: $41.00/month Energy Charge: Demand Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $43.00/month Energy Charge: Demand Charge: |
| Rate | Current Rates | Effective May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Small General Service (< 25 kW) Includes: farms, small grain bins or dryers, and small to medium-sized businesses | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: |
Medium General Demand Service (> 25 kW) Includes: farms, large grain bins or dryers, large-sized farms, medium to large size business, and industrial operations
| Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: $0.06300/kWh Demand Charge: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: $0.06300/kWh Demand Charge: |
Large General Demand Service (> 100 kW in each of 12 consecutive months) Includes: large-sized farms, commercial, and industrial operations | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: $0.06300/kWh Demand Charge: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: $0.06300/kWh Demand Charge: |
Controllable Seasonal Rate Available to members with seasonal energy use requiring at least a 70 KVA transformer
| Basic Service Charge: $140/month Energy Charge: $0.05910/kWh Demand Charges: Seasonal Demand Charge When Load Control is Requested: | Basic Service Charge: $140/month Energy Charge: $0.05910/kWh Demand Charges: Seasonal Demand Charge When Load Control is Requested: |
Peak Alert Interruptible Available to members where their monthly maximum demand will or has exceeded 20 kW for at least once annually and the member has the ability to maintain their system's operation during periods of load control through the use of a standby generator
| Basic Service Charge: $140/month Energy Charge: $0.05910/kWh Demand Charges: Seasonal Demand Charge when Load Control is Requested: | Basic Service Charge: $140/month Energy Charge: $0.05910/kWh Demand Charges: Seasonal Demand Charge When Load Control is Requested: |
Cooperative owned, outdoor, dusk to dawn, unmetered lighting.
Current Rates
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Rates Effective May 2026
| Type of Lighting | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 50 - 150 watt H.P.S. | $10.50 |
| 200 - 250 watt H.P.S. | $14.00 |
| 400 watt H.P.S. | $19.00 |
| LED Lighting (100 watt equivalent) | $10.50 |
| LED Lighting (250 watt equivalent) | $14.00 |
| LED Lighting (400 watt equivalent) | $19.00 |
| Decorative Lighting Domus 55 watt Fixture (150 watt equivalent) | $25.00 |
| Decorative Lighting Pole Top Lantern 42 watt Fixture (150 watt equivalent) | $25.00 |
For separate wood pole, overhead conductor light system, (poles not used for other distribution purposes) add $4.26 per unit price per month.
For all new extensions, additions, or replacements to existing Cooperative owned and ornamental lighting, only LEDs or lighting with equivalent or better energy efficiency will be installed.
Municipal owned, outdoor, dusk to dawn, unmetered lighting.
Current Rates
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Effective May 2026
| Type of Lighting | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 100 - 150 watt H.P.S. | $5.50 |
| 100 - 250 watt H.P.S. | $8.00 |
| 250 watt Mercury Vapor | $8.00 |
| 400 watt Mercury Vapor | $10.00 |
| LED Lighting (100 watt equivalent) | $5.50 |
| LED Lighting (250 watt equivalent) | $8.00 |
| LED Lighting (400 watt equivalent) | $10.00 |
The Cooperative will furnish all electric energy required to operate the municipality's street lighting system. All maintenance shall be the responsibility of the municipality or private entity.
| Rate | Current Rate | Effective May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Optional Residential Time-of-Use Includes: residential homes or apartments
| Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: Summer (Jul-Aug) Non-Summer (Sept-May) |
Optional Electric Vehicle Charging Time-of-Use Includes: electric vehicle charging
| Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: Summer (Jul - Aug) Non-Summer (Sept - May) |
Optional General Service Time-of-Use Includes: single or three-phase general service, 60 Hz, at available secondary voltages
| Basic Service Charge: Energy (kWh) Charge: Demand (kW) Charge:
Winter (Other months and all weekends and holidays*)
*Holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. | Basic Service Charge: Energy (kWh) Charge: Demand (kW) Charge:
Non-Summer (Sept - May)
|
| Rate | Current Rate | Effective May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
On-Peak Electric Space Heating (Closed - not available to new applications) Available for: separately metered, single-phase residential service for the primary purpose of heating with electricity | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: |
Off-Peak Electric Space Heating Available for: separately metered, single-phase service, which has utility approved electric space heating equipment at least 8 kW. | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh |
Off-Peak Electric Vehicle Charging Available for: separately metered, single-phase service, which has utility approved hard-wired, level two electric vehicle charger | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh |
Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Available for: non-residential, Level 3 electric vehicle charging facilities with capacity of 50kW or more | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: Energy Charge: |
Electric Vehicle Charging Subscription Rate This optional incentive pilot rate is available and limited to 50 residential members for separately metered, level-2 hard-wired, electric vehicle charging.
| Subscription Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: | Subscription Charge: Energy Charge: Definition of Peak Periods: |
Dual Fuel Space Heating Available for: separately metered, controlled dual electric space heating where electric service is also used for lighting or other purposes
| Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: |
Off-Peak Electric Water Heating Available for: single-phase general service under a single-phase rate schedule, which has utility approved electric water heating equipment of at least 80 gallons, subject to the established rules and regulations of the Cooperative | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh | Basic Service Charge: $7.00/month Energy Charge: $0.06200/kWh |
Rate Definitions
The basic service charge (BSC) is a fixed monthly charge that helps cover the cost of providing and maintaining safe, reliable electric service, regardless of how much electricity is used. These costs exist even when no energy is consumed and include items such as:
- Substations, wire, poles, transformers, and equipment needed to deliver safe and reliable electricity.
- Trucks, equipment, and tools required to build and maintain the electric distribution system.
- Facilities that house trucks, equipment, and supplies, along with technology and office supplies needed to operate.
- Wages and benefits for the skilled professionals who design, build, maintain, and operate the system.
- Vegetation management and system inspections to ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical system.
- Liability insurance, interest on long term debt, and property taxes.
- Investments in new technologies that improve reliability and operational efficiencies, such as the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system, outage management system, and renewable energy resources.
Because all members benefit from having safe, reliable electric service available when they need it, the BSC ensures that everyone pays their fair share of the fixed costs, even during months when little or no electricity is used.
The energy charge is based on the kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed, based on the meter reading dates, and is multiplied by the current energy rate to calculate the charge.
The demand charge (or informational demand) is based on the highest metered "demand," measured in kilowatts (kW), for electricity in a 15-minute period per billing cycle. In other words, it's the amount of electricity required in an instant to meet the need of all your connected equipment, lighting, devices, etc. at the exact same time. For those in a rate class with demand charges, the charge is calculated based on cost per kW.
The power cost adjustment (PCA) is a monthly adjustment that reflects change in the cost of wholesale power. When wholesale power costs are lower than expected, the PCA is applied as a credit on bills. When costs are higher, it is applied as a charge.
Utilizing a PCA allows the Cooperative to account for these cost fluctuations without having to frequently restructure electric rates. The goal is to recover only what is needed and not to over collect.
Frequently Asked Questions
PEC's member-elected Board of Directors, along with the Cooperative's executive staff, continuously monitor the financial health of the organization. This includes reviewing operating costs, revenue requirements, and results from cost-of-service rate studies to determine whether a rate change is necessary.
When a rate adjustment is needed, the Board of Directors approves the rates based on the following rate-making principles:
- Rates must generate the revenue required to operate the Cooperative, including appropriate operating margins.
- Operating costs and margin requirements are shared equitably across all member classes.
- Rates reflect the cost of providing service to each member class.
Rate design is a balancing act between meeting revenue needs while minimizing the overall financial impact to members.
As a not-for-profit organization, it is necessary to recover the costs of doing business, as well as maintain enough cash reserves (margins) to reinvest in the system.
Therefore, it is important to 1) evaluate the cost of providing service to members, 2) determine the revenue required to cover the costs, and 3) charge rates that ensure the required revenue is collected. The process involves completing a cost of service study which is typically done every three to five years.
The study, completed by an independent and experienced firm, evaluates costs and identifies the total revenue requirement for the Cooperative. The costs are allocated appropriately based on classifications such as residential, commercial, and industrial which are based on the type of service, equipment, infrastructure, and the capacity required to provide service. The results of the cost of service study are then used as a tool to design rates.
- To identify the cost of providing service based on customer class (residential vs. commercial), type of service provided (single vs. three-phase), and energy load characteristics (the demand and capacity requirements a service puts on the system).
- To provide guidance for distributing and allocating revenue requirements to ensure equity between rate classes.
- To provide guidance when designing individual rate schedules to ensure equity within each rate class and to ensure recovery of adequate revenue to provide service required by members.
- Rates should generate the revenue required to operate the Cooperative, including appropriate operating margins.
- Rates should reflect the cost of serving consumers when the rates are in effect.
- If a consumer causes a cost to be incurred by the utility, the consumer should pay that cost.
- Consumers should pay their "fair" share of the utility's costs and margins.
Typically, members are on a rate for 12 consecutive months before being moved to another rate. There can be exceptions to this, like when a major load is added to your service, qualify it for a new rate.
To the electric utility, demand represents the amount of electrical power that must be available to consumers at any given time.
To learn more about demand and how it affects the electrical grid, click below.
The basic service charge (BSC) is a fixed monthly charge that helps cover the cost of providing and maintaining safe, reliable electric service, regardless of how much electricity is used. These costs exist even when no energy is consumed and include items such as:
- Substations, wire, poles, transformers, and equipment needed to deliver safe and reliable electricity.
- Trucks, equipment, and tools required to build and maintain the electric distribution system.
- Facilities that house trucks, equipment, and supplies, along with technology and office supplies needed to operate.
- Wages and benefits for the skilled professionals who design, build, maintain, and operate the system.
- Vegetation management and system inspections to ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical system.
- Liability insurance, interest on long term debt, and property taxes.
- Investments in new technologies that improve reliability and operational efficiencies, such as the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system, outage management system, and renewable energy resources.
Because all members benefit from having safe, reliable electric service available when they need it, the BSC ensures that everyone pays their fair share of the fixed costs, even during months when little or no electricity is used.
All electric utilities are different. PEC serves rural area, has low consumer density, and few large industrial members to distribute the financial load.
For example: PEC serves an average of just over eight consumers per mile of electric line equaling nearly $19,000 of revenue per mile of line. RPU's average is 69 consumers per mile of line with average revenue over $207,000 per mile of line. Regardless of consumer density, PEC is committed to meet each member's needs and expectations for reliable electric service.
The Cooperative has several options to help members manage electric costs. Services include energy management programs to help manage electric usage as well as flexible payment options such as budget billing and a pre-pay option. The first step is knowing how much energy you are consuming. This data is available through SmartHub.
Members can find helpful information about conserving energy on Energy Saving Resources.