PEC Members To See Small Transmission Cost Of Service Increase

PEC members can help the cooperative avoid future increases by shifting energy use during peak times to decrease overall demand on the electric grid.

Johnson City, Texas – Effective March 1, Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s transmission cost of Service (TCOS) will increase by $0.00098 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to $0.01256 per kWh, a less than 1 percent increase on an average member’s bill. Residential members with average energy use of 1,000 kWh should expect to see an increase of about 98 cents per month on their PEC bill.

The TCOS recoups the cost of transporting electricity on the statewide transmission system. That cost is set by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and passed directly through to our members. The cost is based on the measure of PEC’s total energy use when the statewide system experiences its highest overall monthly 15-minute demand “peaks” in June, July, August and September.

Statewide transmission costs account for 11 percent of PEC’s total annual budget and have increased more than 111 percent since 2009. Transmission costs across Texas are expected to increase by 3 percent or more in 2018 alone.

PEC members can help the cooperative avoid future increases by shifting energy use during peak times to decrease overall demand on the electric grid. This past summer, PEC members who worked to shift their peak energy use helped the cooperative and their fellow members avoid an estimated $1.4 million in additional TCOS increases.

To mitigate the TCOS increase on monthly bills, members can sign up for PEC’s eSaver rate: By opting into paperless billing and automatic bank draft on this rate, members will save $2.50 each month or $30 per year. Enroll on SmartHub or by calling PEC Member Services at 888-554-4732.