City of Russell Discusses Impacts of Last Week's SPP Energy Crisis on Upcoming Bills
Many City of Russell customers are concerned about electricity rates increasing next month due to last week's 14-state energy crisis.
The City of Russell released the following information:
"There's a lot of confusion on social media accounts about this, so let us dispel the myths and give you the facts.
There are two primary components of your electric bill – energy consumed measured by kilowatt-hours and an energy cost adjustment displayed on your statement as ECA. The cost per kilowatt-hour is set by ordinance and has not changed. The ECA can be adjusted periodically for increases or decreases in fuel or purchased power costs.
The SPP energy crisis last week resulted in energy costs up to 100 times average. Most utilities will recover that increased cost through the ECA.
The City of Russell is fortunate. We have a power plant that generated a portion of our electricity, which greatly limited our exposure to last week's energy market volatility. It is too early to tell how much of an impact last week's events will have on your utility bills. We are confident it's going to be less of an effect than on other communities.
There is help for those who have trouble paying their bill. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. The 2021 LIEAP application period closes on March 31, 2021. For more information, visit the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide federally funded assistance with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs.
We hope this helps you better understand what may happen with your upcoming bills and give you financial assistance options. These are complex topics, but we want to make sure you're informed.
For more information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 785-483-6311."
(Information courtesy City of Russell.)