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Rate Design

Member Notice: Proposed Rate Increase

Beartooth Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees is considering a proposed 4.5% total revenue increase, focused solely on updating Energy Charges. All Base Charges, System Charges, and the NorthWestern Energy Transmission Charge remain unchanged. If approved at the January 8, 2026 Board Meeting, the new Energy Charges will apply to electricity used on and after January 1, 2026 (appearing on bills mailed in early February).

This adjustment is part of BEC’s long-term plan to prepare for higher wholesale power costs expected in 2027, helping prevent a large single-year rate jump and keeping future rates more stable. For an average residential member using 843 kWh/month, the change equals about $5.05 more per month.

Members are encouraged to submit comments by December 30, 2025, or attend the January 8 Board Meeting. Full details and rate tables are posted at My BEC → Rate Design. Note, the rate table will become effective upon approval of the proposal.

Here is the Member Notice for review – Member Notice-Proposed Rate Increase

Curious about what the change means for your usage? Enter your average usage (kWh) or current bill (kWh) in the calculator below!

	Current Bill	New Bill (Jan 1, 2026)	Difference
Base Charge	0	0	0
Energy Charge (kWh)	0	0	0
NWE Transmission Charge (kWh)	0	0	0
System Charge (kW)	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0

Member Notice: Rate Design—New System Charge rates go into effect June 2024 and Northwestern Energy Transmission rate July 2024

The Effect Of The Rate Structure On You—

What does this mean for your account? It depends on your energy use habits. This adjustment is designed to collect the Co-op’s costs fairly and give Members more control over their electric bills.

Rate Design Bill Calculator

We recommend you have your current bill ready. To enter your actual usage information, just click the drop-down to select your rate class and enter your data. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office at 406-446-2310.

Member Notice: Rate Design—New rates go into effect June 2024

Member Notice—

The Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) Board of Trustees hereby notifies Co-op Members that it will vote on proposals to adjust rates to increase revenues by 5% for all rate classes at the regular Board Meeting on April 30, 2024.

BEC has not had a general rate increase since 2011 and has made several rate reductions in the years after. In 2024, BEC plans to make significant investments in the grid to safely and reliably serve our customers’ growing energy needs. These investments are the primary driver behind this general rate increase. Other factors include staffing additions, funding the wildfire mitigation plan, patrolling 50% of our system annually, repairing deficiencies, and covering the inflation pressures we have been experiencing. In 2021, inflation was at 4.7%; in 2022, inflation was at 8%; and in 2023, it was at 4.1%. Supply chain issues have hit electric utilities hard. Over the last few years, critical components of electric distribution systems have been very challenging to acquire. When we did find them, the costs were significantly higher than what we had paid in previous years. We experienced higher costs in material, labor, and services. For these reasons, the Finance Committee recommended that the Board implement a 5% revenue increase through a general rate increase across all rate classes.

The proposed changes only apply to the System Charge ($/kW). The proposed rate changes would be effective on the June 2024 Billing statement. Current and proposed rates are shown in the following table.

BEC Bylaws, ARTICLE X-Financial Transactions, SECTION 5: Change in Rates, require notice to be given to Members at least 30 days before the Board votes to approve any increase in BEC’s rates.

The BEC Board of Trustees hereby notifies Co-op Members that the Board will vote on this proposal at the regular Board Meeting on April 30, 2024. During the notification period, Members may comment on this proposal via USPS to Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc., Attn: Member Services, PO Box 1110, Red Lodge, MT 59068; via email to bec@beartoothelectric.com; or at the regular Board Meetings on March 26 and April 30, 2024.

For additional information, please call General Manager Pat Patterson at (406) 446-2310 or contact any BEC Board of Trustees member. This notice and documents related to BEC’s Rate Design process are available on the BEC website, www.beartoothelectric.com, under the My BEC tab, Rate Design, and Member Notices.

For additional information, please call General Manager Pat Patterson at (406) 446-2310, or contact any Member of the BEC Board of Trustees. This notice and documents related to BEC’s Rate Design process are available on the BEC website, www.beartoothelectric.com, under the My BEC tab, Rate Design, and Member Notices.

Current and proposed rates for affected rate classes are shown in the following table. The proposed rates would be effective beginning on June 1, 2024.

Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Information

All BEC members are invited and encouraged to attend both committee and board meetings to participate in the project process. If you are not able to attend the meetings, below are links to all articles, reports and presentations provided to date. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call the office at (406) 446-2310 or contact any board trustee or risk management committee member.

January 2021