RATE INCREASE
If you’ve watched the news lately, I’m sure you’re aware that utilities throughout the state and nation are facing price adjustments due to the rising cost of generating electricity. For some, the most recent hike is the second or third increase this year. Fortunately, GVEC has been able to hold off on passing along any of these increases to you; however, the increases have kept coming and we see no indication of prices trending downward in the near term. Therefore, on June 24, the GVEC Board of Directors approved a rate increase to compensate for the significant price increases we have been experiencing. The staff and Board realize that this comes at a time when costs are rising in every direction, from gasoline to food, so this is a decision that was not taken lightly.

Currently, the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for an all-electric, residential home is, on average, 9.7 cents. That rate will increase to about 11.2 cents per kWh beginning with your August bill. An average GVEC household will pay approximately $22.50 more per month. This price adjustment comes primarily in response to the increasing cost of natural gas, which is a major fuel used to generate electricity. Additionally, the electric utility industry as a whole is also facing monumental, long-term challenges such as growing demand and increased construction costs for new generation facilities, as well as environmental and regulatory pressures which are creating much uncertainty and cost speculation - which all spell out increased prices for you.

To help offset some of these increasing costs, we encourage you to conserve energy in every way you can. You’ll find a number of energy conservation tips on our website at www.gvec.org, including an online calculator that will help you estimate how much energy you could save by making changes to your home and lifestyle. We also offer free home energy audits to our members. If you have questions on how you can save energy, or if you need advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to call and speak with a Member Services Advisor.

In closing, we understand that this increase is not insignificant to many. We also understand that my comments regarding the long-term are not optimistic; however, we feel the need to keep you informed, even when the information is not pleasant. The bright side to this is that we are a cooperative form of business, and we have your interests at heart. We will work diligently for you through these challenging times.

ANNUAL MEETING
The GVEC Annual Meeting was held on June 27 in Gonzales. For those who were not able to attend, you’ll find a copy of the Annual Report, photos and video presentation on our microsite at http://gvec-news.org.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Please contact me anytime you have questions, comments or suggestions. Email me at info@gvec.org, call me at 1-800-223-GVEC (4832) or write to me at P. O. Box 118, Gonzales, Texas, 78629. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

View our archived "Thoughts from the CEO"

The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only,
and is subject to change. The official documentation can be obtained by
contacting the GVEC headquarters office at 800-223-4832.