Berlin continues to have the lowest rates among regional electric power providers on the Delmarva Peninsula, including Delmarva Power and Choptank Electric Cooperative, Mayor Gee Williams announced this week.
“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how Berlin’s power rates compare with alternative providers in the region since Delmarva Power received their most recent rate increase approval last month from the Maryland Public Service Commission,” Williams said. “We work to keep our rates competitive. Our membership in American Municipal Power (AMP) enables the Town of Berlin to take advantage of the bulk purchasing power of multiple municipal systems, as well as drops in energy prices that occur from time to time.”
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, AMP is a nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for 133 member utilities in nine states. Based on an average residential monthly bill (1,000 kWh) and rate increase approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission in February, a Berlin Electric customer pays $128.74, a Choptank Electric Cooperative customer pays $138.33, and a Delmarva Power customer will pay $151.79.
In 2015, Berlin entered into a purchased power contract with AMP that reduced the cost of energy from approximately 6.39 cents per kilowatt-hour to about 5.95 cents per kilowatt-hour, through December 2017.
Beginning in 2018, the town’s power cost will be reduced further. Through the town’s power cost adjustment, customers should see a 5-to-7 percent decrease in their bills about a year from now, by spring 2018.
“Our rates are competitive now and will stay that way through 2020,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said. “Since we joined AMP, we’re able to take an even more timely approach and faster response to how we purchase power based on changes in the power supply market. AMP has employees watching the market every day, so we’re able to take advantage of price decreases even more quickly than before.”
“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how Berlin’s power rates compare with alternative providers in the region since Delmarva Power received their most recent rate increase approval last month from the Maryland Public Service Commission,” Williams said. “We work to keep our rates competitive. Our membership in American Municipal Power (AMP) enables the Town of Berlin to take advantage of the bulk purchasing power of multiple municipal systems, as well as drops in energy prices that occur from time to time.”
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, AMP is a nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for 133 member utilities in nine states. Based on an average residential monthly bill (1,000 kWh) and rate increase approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission in February, a Berlin Electric customer pays $128.74, a Choptank Electric Cooperative customer pays $138.33, and a Delmarva Power customer will pay $151.79.
In 2015, Berlin entered into a purchased power contract with AMP that reduced the cost of energy from approximately 6.39 cents per kilowatt-hour to about 5.95 cents per kilowatt-hour, through December 2017.
Beginning in 2018, the town’s power cost will be reduced further. Through the town’s power cost adjustment, customers should see a 5-to-7 percent decrease in their bills about a year from now, by spring 2018.
“Our rates are competitive now and will stay that way through 2020,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said. “Since we joined AMP, we’re able to take an even more timely approach and faster response to how we purchase power based on changes in the power supply market. AMP has employees watching the market every day, so we’re able to take advantage of price decreases even more quickly than before.”