Your BECi bill is broken down into these four components:
- Energy Cost and Monthly Service Charge
- The smallest portion of the cost of providing power and the only portion that can be directly influenced by BECi. Costs include building and maintaining power lines, power restoration, communications, billing, customer service, metering, administration, employees, and other business related items.
- BECi has not had a full rate change since June 2008.
- Power Cost Adjustment
- A charge from our power supplier for providing electricity and is a direct flow-through to our members.
- The rate is based on fluctuating prices of fuels, primarily coal and natural gas, to generate power each month.
- This charge is based on a long-term contract between BECi and CLECO Cajun, which expires in 2025. BECi has worked diligently to secure a new power provider (see managers column in March 2022 Louisiana Country regarding our new contract to begin 2025 that will reduce the overall cost of your electric bill).
- Environmental Charge
- A charged billed to the cooperative from our power supplier and is also a direct flow-through to our members.
- Charges reflect the cost of updating, upgrading and retrofitting the electric generating facilities of our wholesale power supplier to comply with new emissions mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Formula Rate Plan (FRP)
- BECi has not had a full rate increase since 2008. To pass a rate increase, many months (average of 18-20 months) and much cost is involved by conducting internal studies related to a rate increase. To alleviate this passage of time and expense, the LPSC approved the FRP on an annual basis beginning in October 2013.
- This charge is added on a much smaller scale than an energy rate increase to enable BECi to meet its operation expenses while also meeting other financial requirements of its creditors.
- The FRP rate is the same percentage as it was nine years ago.