City Offers Winter Bill Payment Option Amid High Electric Usage
Program Provides Utility Payment Flexibility
January 18, 2018
With frigid temperatures in the 20’s, the City of Tallahassee’s Electric Utility department recorded its highest peak load in nearly a decade, and third highest ever, this morning between 7 and 8 a.m. That peak load reached 617 megawatts (MW), only 16 MW below its highest peak load ever recorded eight years ago, on January 11, 2010.
The City attributes this morning’s high load, which also caused peaks for natural gas usage, to the sustained cold weather sweeping through Tallahassee, weather that recently brought snow fall to the area. Despite the winter demands for electric power, the City’s Electric Utility department has more than an adequate supply of power reserves to meet current needs. Both of the City’s major power plants utilize generating units that employ the most efficient technology in the industry and are able to produce electric supplies to meet high loads, including this week's heating-induced demands.
City utility customers using more energy to offset the colder weather should expect to see the increase on their next bill. To help ease the financial burden this may bring for some customers, the City is offering a one-time payment option for utility customers known as the Winter Relief Assistance Program (WRAP).
The alternative payment program allows all residential and non-demand small business utility customers to carry over up to 25 percent of their utility bill in January and February to the following month's bill, when usage will likely be less. To request the carryover option, customers should contact City of Tallahassee Utilities at 891-4968.
Utility customers who choose to participate in WRAP can expect the carryover to be clearly identified as a separate line item on the next month's bill. The City will work with these customers on an individual basis. This payment option can only be made one time per account. Non-demand small business customers can refer to their utility bill to determine their rate class, indicated as "GS" (refers to "General Service" commercial customers).
The City continues to encourage utility customers to use energy wisely and take advantage of Energy Smart Plus (e+) programs to help save energy, water and money. City of Tallahassee Utilities offers a wide range of e+ programs, including free energy audits, energy retrofit grants, natural gas and Energy Star appliance rebates, ceiling insulation grants and low-interest energy efficiency loans. Qualifying low-income and disabled customers in need can also receive utility bill payment assistance through the City's Project Share initiative and other programs.
For more information on the Winter Relief Assistance Program, energy efficiency and other e+ programs, contact the City of Tallahassee’s Utilities department at 891-4968 or visit Talgov.com.
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