For Immediate Release: May 9, 2017
Kingman, Ariz. – UniSource Energy Services (UES) electric customers will pay lower energy costs this summer thanks to reduced fuel and purchased power prices.
The Arizona Corporation Commission today approved UES’ request to temporarily decrease the Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Charge (PPFAC) used to calculate customers’ monthly electric bills beginning June 1. The change is expected to reduce the average monthly summertime bill of a typical residential customer by $12.30.
“We’re passing along lower fuel costs to our electric customers just in time to help reduce the impact of home cooling expenses during the summer,” said David G. Hutchens, UES’ President and Chief Executive Officer.
The PPFAC is a usage-based charge that reflects changes in the costs UES incurs to fuel its power plants and purchase energy for customers. UES passes these costs along to customers without any markup through the PPFAC, which appears on customers’ bills under “Power Supply Charges.”
The PPFAC rate, currently a credit of four-tenths of one cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh), will be increased to a credit of 1.6 cents per kWh from June 1 to October 31, 2017. The higher credit passes along savings realized through reductions in natural gas and purchased power expenses.
While UES customers will be paying lower power supply costs this summer, increased usage may result in higher overall bills. UES offers customers several ways to help manage their energy bills, including energy efficiency options and billing programs. UES’ Budget Billing program levels out seasonal swings in monthly bills by dividing customers’ estimated annual charges into 12 equal monthly payments. Discounted rates and emergency bill payment assistance also are available to eligible limited-income customers.
UES provides electric service to approximately 95,000 customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. The company also provides natural gas to approximately 154,000 customers in northern and southern Arizona. For more information, visit uesaz.com. UES and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis, Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. To learn more, visit fortisinc.com.
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@uesaz.com
