As I wrote last month, Tipmont is not immune to inflationary pressure. Costs have increased to deliver the reliable electricity you expect. As specific examples, the cost of poles has gone up by 33% since 2020, the cost of wires used most often has risen by 16%, and transformers now cost 200% to 300% more (and are in increasingly short supply).

While general prices in our nation over the last decade have increased by nearly 30%, Tipmont’s average monthly bill has increased by just 13% in the same period. Tipmont has minimized costs where possible to be responsible stewards of your cooperative. Regrettably, these efforts have limitations when weighing current inflation against the reliability you deserve.

Starting with Tipmont electric bills mailed Jan. 22, the monthly service charge will increase by $3.50 to $38. The service charge is a fixed amount on your monthly bill required to deliver electricity and maintain the system that serves you. Each member pays the same service charge per rate class. The service charge is separate from the energy charge, which is the cost of how much energy you use.

The service charge helps Tipmont:

• Provide necessary equipment and labor to deliver electricity to your home, including the aforementioned poles, wires and transformers, and more
• Invest in new equipment and systems to keep up with the growing demand for reliable electricity
• Provide the local staff that serves you

This will be the first time Tipmont has increased its service charge since January 2020. More information is available at tipmont.org/23rateincrease.

Need assistance paying your bill?

If you need assistance paying your bill, you can find information at tipmont.org/energyassistance. Looking for tips on how to use less energy? Visit tipmont.org/saveenergy.

Kilowatts & Brats in February

We’ve also scheduled a series of Kilowatts & Brats events this winter. Bring your questions and your appetite, as we’ll have delicious brats, chips and cookies on us along with an update on our fiber build and a Q&A session with me.

Kilowatts & Brats will run from 6 to 7 p.m. on:

Registration for Kilowatts & Brats will open in early January.

And if you need to talk about your bill, feel free to call us at 800- 726-3953 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. We’re proud to serve so many families, farms and businesses, and we’ll continue fighting for you to deliver fair, flexible and affordable energy.