A LETTER FROM HOLY CROSS ENERGY
PRESIDENT & CEO, BRYAN HANNEGAN
Socios de Holy Cross Energy,
Este año marca 84 años de servicio eléctrico seguro, asequible, confiable y sostenible para ustedes, nuestros miembros. Nuestra cooperativa es tan fuerte como siempre lo ha sido. Nuestras comunidades han resistido incendios forestales, deslizamientos de tierra, sequías y una pandemia en los últimos años.
Nos estamos preparando para un panorama cambiante.
A medida que buscamos brindarle el mejor servicio posible ahora y en el futuro, nos estamos preparando y debemos planificar para adaptarnos al panorama cambiante en el que brindamos electricidad y servicios a nuestros miembros.
Se espera que la región Inter montañosa aumente en población en los próximos años. La tecnología innovadora continúa impulsando nuestra industria a medida que nuestros miembros y comunidades solicitan nuevos servicios de energía. También hay un aumento de los riesgos de incendios forestales y seguridad cibernética. Las interrupciones en la cadena de suministro de nuestro equipo operativo estándar han significado tiempos de entrega más largos para garantizar que tengamos todo lo que necesitamos para realizar nuestro trabajo de manera segura y efectiva para mantener sus luces encendidas.
El suministro de electricidad ya no es solo un producto de bajo costo. En cambio, la futura red eléctrica es el suministro confiable de electricidad junto con muchos otros servicios que desean nuestros miembros. Esto significa invertir y mantener nuestra infraestructura de red eléctrica para servirle sin importar de dónde provenga su electricidad: su techo, su comunidad o muchas millas de distancia.
Por lo tanto, nuestras tarifas están cambiando.
Para mantener ingresos suficientes para realizar nuestras funciones vitales ahora y en el futuro, necesitamos alinear nuestras tarifas con nuestros costos de servicio. Para hacerlo, hemos creado una estructura de tarifas más equitativa para todos nuestros miembros. Esta nueva estructura le pedirá a cada miembro que pague solo por la energía y las partes del sistema que usa cada mes.
Después de revisar exhaustivamente nuestra perspectiva financiera y someternos a un análisis del modelo de costo del servicio, la Junta Directiva de Holy Cross Energy aprobó una estrategia tarifaria multianual actualizada que se implementará el 1 de septiembre de 2023. Al alinear nuestras tarifas con nuestros costos ahora , podremos evitar un aumento significativo en el futuro.
Todos sabemos que los costos están aumentando en todas las partes de la economía. Pero, a través de una administración de costos cuidadosa y reflexiva, podemos mantener nuestro aumento de tarifas muy por debajo de lo que todos estamos experimentando en otras áreas de nuestras vidas. En promedio, nuestras tarifas solo aumentarán un 2% en septiembre.
Según sus patrones de uso individuales, es posible que vea un aumento o una disminución, por encima o por debajo del 2 %. Incluso con estos cambios, nuestras tarifas seguirán estando en el tercio inferior de todas las facturas de servicios públicos de Colorado. Puede encontrar más información sobre cómo están cambiando nuestras tarifas en www.holycross.com/rates.
Qué puede hacer ahora para minimizar el impacto.
HCE ofrece una amplia gama de programas para ayudarlo a hacerse cargo de su uso de electricidad y administrar sus costos de electricidad. Con nuestra reestructuración de tarifas, puede ahorrar dinero al disminuir su uso entre las 4 p. m. y las 9 p. m. Consulte su cuenta de SmartHub, en http://holycross.smarthub.coop, para obtener más información sobre sus patrones de uso y cómo comenzar a ahorrar ahora antes de estos cambios.
Otra forma de ahorrar en su factura es participar en Peak Time Payback (PTP). PTP recompensa a los miembros por reducir el consumo de electricidad durante períodos de tiempo en los que pronosticamos que la necesidad de electricidad será mayor de lo habitual. Desde el lanzamiento de PTP en 2019, hemos ahorrado más de $500,00 para nuestros miembros y hemos pagado a los miembros participantes más de $215,000. Debido a este éxito, aumentaremos en un 50 % la tasa de recuperación por reducir su uso durante las horas pico. Visite www.holycross.com/peak-time-payback para obtener más información y para inscribirse en PTP.
Si aún tiene inquietudes sobre el pago de su factura, comuníquese con nosotros para conocer nuestros programas de asistencia. Podemos ayudarlo a averiguar si califica para recibir asistencia con el pago de facturas, actualizarse a productos más eficientes en energía y climatización del hogar, o participar en uno de nuestros otros programas de ahorro de costos.
Como cooperativa, nuestra membresía es más fuerte cuando los miembros toman un papel activo. Si desea ofrecer comentarios, visite www.holycross.com/rates antes del 30 de abril para enviar un comentario a nuestra Junta Directiva.
Atentamente,
Bryan Hannegan
Presdidente y CEO, Holy Cross Energy
¿Por qué están cambiando nuestras tarifas?
Mientras buscamos brindarle el mejor servicio posible ahora y en el futuro, hemos creado una estructura de tarifas más equitativa para toda nuestra membresía. Después de revisar a fondo nuestra perspectiva financiera y someternos a un análisis del modelo de costo de servicio, nuestra Junta Directiva aprobó una estrategia de tarifas multianual actualizada que se implementará el 1 de septiembre del 2023.
1 –
La nueva estructura alinea mejor nuestros ingresos con la forma en que se incurren los costos.
- Esto crea una asignación de costos más equitativa entre nuestros miembros.
- Al reestructurar las tasas ahora, podremos evitar un aumento de tarifas más significativo para nuestros miembros en el futuro.
- Esta estructura de tarifas más equitativa hará que cada miembro pague por la energía y las partes del sistema que usan cada mes.
2 –
La nueva estructura aumentará nuestra sostenibilidad financiera.
- La nueva estructura nos permitirá recaudar los ingresos necesarios para proporcionar una entrega de energía segura y confiable a nuestros miembros, independientemente de la cantidad de energía vendida.
- Nos permitirá gestionar mejor los aspectos financieros de la transición hacia un futuro de energía limpia.
3 –
La nueva estructura mantendrá las tarifas de HCE competitivas con otras empresas de servicios públicos de Colorado.
- Nuestro objetivo es permanecer en el 1/3 inferior de las tarifas de servicios públicos en el estado
- La nueva estructura reducirá el costo de la energía para los miembros y agregará flexibilidad para facilitar la administración de los costos a través de la electrificación y la respuesta a la demanda.
What does Peak Demand mean?
For our members who have not previously had a demand charge on their bills, here’s some additional information to help you understand what it means, how it’s displayed on your bill, and why it’s important.
Demand is a key component of future growth and a necessary investment to supply the maximum requirement of electricity by all cooperative members. This investment is recovered by allocating demand costs to each member.
Much like a speedometer tells you how fast you are going at a given moment, a demand measurement tells you how much power you are using at that moment in time. Electric meters record demand as the highest average kilowatts reached and maintained within a 15-minute interval period.
And much like an odometer tells you how far you’ve gone in total, an energy measurement tells you how much energy you’ve used in total.
Demand allows us to bill our members based on how they use the grid. This better aligns our revenue to our cost-of-service study. Members will notice the kWh charge (Delivery and Energy Charges) decrease. This is made possible by realigning our members’ charges to accurately reflect the way we incur costs which will now include the demand charge during our highest cost time.
Another way to help understand the importance of demand is to think of electricity like water. Demand is like the flow rate of water coming out of your pipes, and Energy is like the amount of water that ends up in your bucket.
Just like a water utility must build a system that can support the maximum amount of water pressure demanded from its users at any given point, we must build and maintain an electric grid that can support the maximum amount of electricity demanded from our members at any given point.
On the back of your bill, you can see what your 24-hour demand registered at during that billing cycle (measured in kW). Additionally, at the top right corner, you can see a time stamp of when that demand was registered. It was during that 15 minute period when the highest amount of power was being used in your home or business during that billing cycle.
Starting in September, we will only measure your demand from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; you will be charged based on your highest single 15-minute demand measurement from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during that billing period.
Electric meters record demand as the highest average kilowatts reached and maintained within a 15-minute interval period.
Starting in September, we will only be measuring your demand during our “Peak” hours, from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
You will be billed only on your one single highest demand measurement during that billing period.
Small Residential & Small Commercial
Members in these categories have a Peak Demand of less than 50 kW. Most residential members fall into the Small Residential category.
Large Residential & Large Commercial
Members in these categories have a Peak Demand of greater than 50 kW.
Frequently Asked Questions
- HCE worked closely with the The Brattle Group to build a Cost-of-Service model based on the previous year’s financials.
- The purpose of the model is to ultimately allocate cost responsibilities to each of HCE’s member classes.
- After thoroughly reviewing our financial outlook and undergoing a Cost-of-Service model analysis, the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors approved an updated multi-year rate strategy that will be implemented on September 1, 2023. By aligning our rates with our costs now, we will be able to stave off a significant increase in the future.
- The last rate change was in 2018.
- We intentionally did not change rates during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the uncertainty faced by our members and their communities. Instead, we provided pandemic assistance funds to help members pay their bills.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, all excess revenue is either invested back into the cooperative to maintain a safe and reliable grid, or given back to our members in the form of Capital Credits (member equity checks). Our members are our owners, and there are no shareholders.
- Our rates will remain in the bottom third of all Colorado electric rates, even with this rate structure change.
- Through careful and thoughtful cost management, we will be able keep our rate increase far below what we are all experiencing in other areas of our lives. On average, our rates will only increase by 2% in September.
- Based on your individual usage patterns, you may see an increase or decrease, above or below 2%.
Starting September 1, 2023 the bill structure will be implemented, and it will first appear on your October 2023 bills.
- The intermountain region is expected to increase in population over the coming years.
- Innovative technology continues to push our industry forward as our members and communities ask for new energy services.
- There are also increased wildfire and cyber security risks. Supply chain interruptions to our standard operating equipment have meant longer lead times to ensure we have everything we need to perform our jobs safely and effectively to keep your lights on.
- In order to maintain sufficient revenue to perform our vital functions now and in the future, we need to align our rates with our costs of service.
- No, increased renewable resources provide low-cost fixed-price contracts that are not subject to volatile commodity (i.e. natural gas) pricing.
- Local renewable development provides both savings and increased local supply.
- 2023 marks the first year of a multi-year rate strategy that will be implemented on September 1, 2023. The proposed rates will change each year for three years.
- Our wholesale energy calculation is based on calendar year. For calendar year 2022, our wholesale rate was $0.04441/kWh.
- Demand has been charged on large residential and large commercial accounts on a 24/7 basis. Now Demand will be charged on all accounts for the highest demand recorded during the 4 – 9 p.m. when members typically use the most energy.
- Demand allows us to bill our members based on how they use the grid. This better aligns our revenue to our cost-of-service study. Members will notice the kWh charge (Delivery and Energy Charges) decrease. This is made possible by realigning our members’ charges to accurately reflect the way we incur costs which will now include the demand charge during our highest cost time.
- Demand is a key component of future growth and necessary investment to supply the maximum requirement of electricity by all cooperative members. This investment is recovered by allocating demand costs to each member.
- Members’ Demand Charge is recorded via the members meter for their greatest energy use in a 15-minute period during the 4-9 p.m. window. This is the capacity needed to ensure you have electricity when you need it.
- Adjust your usage behavior; try to minimize the number of electric appliances you use at the same time from 4 – 9 p.m.
- Sign up for Peak Time Payback.
- Invest in energy-efficient products and receive HCE rebates to help with the upfront cost.
- Call us! We want to work with you. Our MSR team can advise of our assistance programs or contact local agencies. Don’t wait to ask for help; we’re here for you.
Adjust your energy behaviors from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Under the new rate structure, avoiding high energy usage during Peak Demand is an easy way to keep your bill low.
- Try to minimize the number of electric appliances you have on at the same time. For example, start your laundry after you’re done using your stove for the night.
- Schedule things like EV charging, laundry, dishwashing, and heat tape to run outside of the 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. peak hours.
- Pre-cool or pre-heat spaces in your home before peak hours.
- Set large appliances like boilers and water heaters on timers to only run outside of peak hours.
Sign up for Peak Time Payback.
Starting in September, payback amounts increase 50%
- Get rewarded with bill credits for reducing electricity usage during our Peak Time Payback events.
- We calculate your average baseline usage before the event and compare it to what you actually use during the event.
- If you reduce usage, we save money and share that savings with you!
Energy Efficiency Rebates
We’ll help with 25% of the upfront cost when you invest in qualifying high efficiency equipment for your home or business.
Our 2023 rebates allow for:
- Up to $5,000/year for Residential Members.
- Up to $7,500/project for Commercial Members.
- Qualifying projects include Heat Pumps, Building Envelope & Insulation, Heat Pump Dryers & Water Heaters, Heat Tape Timers, Induction Cooktops/Ranges, Smart & Programmable Thermostats, and more.
Optional Time of Day Rate
For residential and small commercial members who are able to substantially minimize their energy usage during our Peak Demand timeframe of 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Time of Day rates will also move to separate Energy and Delivery Charges for both On-Peak and Off-Peak hours.
- Since the Time of Day rate structure charges significantly higher for On-Peak hours, there is no separate Demand Charge for members who sign up for this optional program.
- One-year minimum participation is required under this rate.
- Power+ Participants are not eligible for Time of Day Rate.
- To sign up, please contact our Member Services Team at (970) 945-5491.
Optional Time of Day Rate – Starting September 2023
Peak Hours: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
7 Days a Week
| Membership Fee | $16.00 / month |
| Delivery Charge – Off Peak | $0.022 / kWh |
| Delivery Charge – On Peak | $0.088 / kWh |
| Energy Charge – Off Peak | $0.041 / kWh |
| Energy Charge – On Peak | $0.163 / kWh |
| WeCARE Fee | 2% |
| Peak Demand Charge | None |
| On-Peak Total | $0.251 / kWh |
| Off-Peak Total | $0.063 / kWh |
The full official proposed changes to the HCE Electric Service Tariffs, Rules, and Regulations is available here.
Submit your comments to the HCE Board of Directors
As a cooperative, our membership is strongest when members take an active role. If you would like to ask questions, offer comments, or submit complaints to our Board of Directors, please complete the form below by April 30 to submit a comment.