Understanding Your Bill

Power Cost Adjustment

A power cost adjustment factor appears on the bills and will allow Palmetto Electric to track fluctuating wholesale power costs. The power cost adjustment is calculated by multiplying the total kWh usage by the corresponding month's power cost factor. The current power cost factor is $ -0.004319.

Palmetto Electric is a non-profit member-owned distribution electric cooperative. The power we purchase is generated by Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility. Palmetto Electric's wholesale power costs represent about two-thirds of our total charges.

The majority of the power Palmetto Electric purchases is generated by coal. Coal prices have been increasing dramatically since 2003. Much of this increase is due to transportation costs associated with rising gasoline prices. Other generation is fired by natural gas and those costs have also increased tremendously.

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