What to expect with the upcoming rate restoration
Beginning in October, customers will see changes in their electric bill from Independence Power & Light. The changes reflect a return to 2012 rates, which were before previous City Council's adopted a series of 6% cumulative discounts.
Some questions you may have:
How much will customers see their bills increase by?
Customers will see their bills increase by an average of $10. Those with high usage may see their bills increase by an average of $15.
When was the last IPL rate restoration?
IPL has not had a rate increase since 2012.
If I'm on an all-electric plan, can I stay on all-electric?
Yes, you will remain on all-electric. However, you will still be affected by the rate restoration.
How much money will this generate and what will it be used for?
The rate restoration will generate between $6-8 million in annual revenue for IPL. This additional revenue will be used for critical maintenance projects that will help avoid cuts to current service levels such as staffing the crews that restore your power after an outage or providing $3 million for annual tree trimming and other preventative maintenance measures to avoid disruptions to your electrical service.
My utility bill is already higher than someone I know outside of Independence.
It's important to remember that Independence utility bills contain electric, water and sewer charges. Other cities typically separate these charges into three separate bills. While the total cost of your bill may seem higher than someone outside of Independence, it is likely theirs does not contain the combined charges. Even with the return of 2012, IPL rates will be among the lowest rates in the area.
Another important note, the rate restoration is not a 6% increase of your total bill. It is a 6% increase on your electrical wattage used per month.
I'm already seeing an increase in my bill -- Have there been rate changes already?
It's currently on-peak season. Due to the climate in Missouri, on-peak season occurs during the warmer months when electrical demands are highest for the year and purchase power costs are higher. On-peak season begins in May and runs until September. If you see increases in your bill during this time -- it is due to your usage and the season.
I participate in the community solar program and am supposed to be protected against rate increases. How does this affect me?
Participants in the community solar program are protected against energy rate increases for the amount of energy they have signed up for. Through the transition from the old tiered rate structure to the new one, which will take place with the rate restoration, an average user's overall energy rate per kilowatt hour will decrease.
Even with the rate restoration, the average user will see an overall decrease in their energy rate as the new rate structure simplifies.
If you have any questions about your current Utility bill, please contact the Customer Service Division at 816-325-7378.