MEA rate increase to take effect in January

WASILLA — Homeowners next year will see their power rates increase by an average of about $1.34 per month after the Matanuska Electric Association approved a rate increase at its Nov. 9 board meeting.

According to a press released by the cooperative, the base rate for members will increase by 1.91 percent, beginning in the first quarter of 2016.

According to the press release, the average member uses about 700 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

The cooperative is allowed to file limited increases or decreases on a quarterly basis, provided the rate changes are within parameters set by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). The new rates will go into effect the first week of January, pending approval by the RCA.

Alaska’s oldest and second-largest electric cooperartive, MEA serves more than 50,000 members in Southcentral Alaska. The cooperative’s service area covers more than 4,200 miles of power lines.

For more information on the new rates or about MEA in general, visit the cooperative online at mea.coop.