The Lakeland City Commission voted Tuesday, September 6, to approve an annual true-up of the environmental charge. The environmental charge will decrease by $0.4661 from $2.8758 per 1,000 kWh to $2.4097 per 1,000 kWh. The average monthly residential bill will decrease by $0.47.
The charge recovers the cost of items like permit fees, chemicals and other costs on environmental projects required to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards. The environmental charge appears as a separate line item on customers’ bills.
This reduction is partially related to the closure of the utility’s coal generator. Utility staff noted that the cost for the by-product storage area closure at the C.D. Jr. McIntosh Plant scheduled for the fiscal years 2023 and 2024 is included in this charge. The utility expects this charge will decrease again once the by-product storage area closure is completed in 2024.
| Residential Rates Based on 1,000 kWh | Current | Rates – Effective October 2022 | |
| Base Charge* (see below for a breakdown of charges) | $61.99 | $61.99 | |
| Fuel Charge | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Environmental Charge | $ 2.88 | $ 2.41 | |
| TOTAL: | $139.87 | $139.40 | |
| *Base Charge | Current | Rates – Effective October 2022 | |
| Customer Charge | $ 11.00/month | $ 11.00/month | |
| Energy & Smart Grid Charges | $ 50.99/1000 kWh | $ 50.99/1000 kWh |