Fall Foliage, Ovando, Montana

Rates

Rates at MEC are set by the Cooperative’s Board of Trustees. Rate and Fee booklets are available by request. 

Rate Tables

Rural Residential Service

Montana Idaho
Fixed Charge $28.00/month $28.00/month
Energy Charge
All kWh $0.0715/kWh $0.0715/kWh
Peak Charge $0.27/KW $0.27/KW

Small Commercial Single Phase

Montana Idaho
Fixed Charge $31.50/month $31.50/month
Energy Charge $0.0718/kWh $0.0767/kWh
Peak Charge $0.27/KW $0.27/KW

 

Small Commercial Multi-Phase

Montana Idaho
Fixed Charge $36.50/month $36.50/month
Energy Charge $0.0718/kWh $0.0767/kWh
Peak Charge $0.27/KW $0.27/KW

Large Commercial

Montana Idaho
Fixed Charge $42.00/month $43.50/month
Energy Charge $0.0436/kWh $0.0436/kWh
Demand Charge $11.00/KW  $11.00/KW

Irrigation

Montana Idaho
Annual Fixed Charge
5 HP to 10 HP $300.00/year $300.00/year
>10 HP to <30 HP $500.00/year $500.00/year
30 HP and greater $750.00/year $750.00/year
Energy Charge $0.0570/kWh $0.0570/kWh
 
Horsepower Charge
10HP or Less No Charge No Charge
Over 10 HP $10.00 per HP/year $10.00 per HP/year

New Industrial Loads

Contact Missoula Electric Cooperative for more information about our Industrial Rates for new industrial loads locating in our service territory.

Yard Lights

Montana Idaho
48 Watt LED $13.50/month $15.50/month
70 Watt LED $19.50/month $22.50/month

Rate Definitions

Fixed Charges: Often referred to the “Base Charge”, this amount is designed for the Cooperative to recoup its costs related to the infrastructure necessary to serve a given category of a load. Fixed costs will vary from co-op to co-op and from one rate category to another as they are based on how many poles, wires, and other equipment is necessary to serve a given category of a load.

Energy Charges: All energy usage is metered in kilowatt-hours. A kilowatt-hour is the amount of energy necessary to light one 100-Watt light bulb for 10 hours or one 1,000-Watt light bulb for one hour.

Peak Charges: The highest hourly usage, represented in kilowatts (KW), during MEC’s peak hours which are Monday through Friday from 7-10 AM & 6-9 PM (excluding major federal holidays).

Demand Charges: All demand is measured in kilowatts, and applies to commercial and industrial loads. Demand represents the amount of current the Cooperative must maintain at the ready for a given consumer.

SIGN UP FEES

Fees effective October 16, 2012

DEPOSIT

MEC will perform a credit check at the time of sign-up, and based on the results we determine if a deposit is needed or not.

  • Residential: $150.00 minimum, or twice the highest bill at the place of service, whichever is greater
  • Commercial: for commercial accounts at an existing service, the minimum deposit will be equal to the total amount of the two (2) highest bills of the last twelve months of service at this location
  • Commercial New Construction: with no, or less than acceptable credit history, deposits will be based on serving size and possible capacity of usage

PAPER PROCESSING FEE

We charge a one-time processing fee for every meter that the consumer signs up. This fee is charged each time a meter is put into a consumer’s name. This fee is billed out on your first statement.

  • Processing Fee: One-time charge of $5.00

COLLECTION FEE

We charge certain fees at different stages in the collection process. These fees are as follows in the order they are charged to the account:

  • Penalty Charge: 1.5% of the balance at the time of processing
  • Disconnect Letter Fee: $5.00
  • Final Termination Notice: $15.00

RETURNED CHECK AND DECLINED CARD FEE

We charge a returned check fee for every check that is sent back to us from the bank. The fee is applied to the account that the payment was applied against. We charge a fee for all card payments and automated drafts that are returned from the bank.

  • Checks Returned for Insufficient Funds: $25.00

SERVICE FEE

A service fee will be charged for various service calls. The fees vary depending on what service is requested.

  • Service Visit Fee: $35.00
  • Load Limiter Fee (service visit): $35.00
  • Reconnect Fee: $100.00
  • After-Hours Reconnect Fee: $150.00*

*Charged for reconnecting service between 3:00 PM and 8:00 AM Monday – Friday any time during weekends and holidays.

METER TAMPERING FEE

We charge a fee for tampering with any MEC meter. There is also a possibility of criminal charges being brought against any persons that tamper with an MEC meter.

TAMPERING FEE

Tampering Fee: $300.00
Reconnect Fee: 100.00
Deposit (paid prior to reconnecting): Twice highest month’s bill and any kWh used

IRRIGATION SERVICE FEE

The Horsepower Charge for irrigation accounts will be billed in two installations; The first half of the annual minimum charge will be reflected in your May energy bill, which you will receive and be required to pay in May. The second portion will automatically be added to your September energy bill and is due in September. All other energy charges must be paid by the respective due date.

TEMPORARY SERVICE FEES

RESIDENTIAL

There is a fee of $150.00 for temporary residential service. In addition, the temporary service including meter base and all secondary wire, shall be provided by the consumer.

If a temporary service including meter base and all secondary wire is provided by MEC, the consumer must pay in advance a contribution of 100% of the estimated materials, installation and retirement cost (no credit for salvage will e granted) of providing the temporary facilities. In either case, MEC provides at no cost, the transformer, and meter.

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

A temporary service, including meter base and all secondary wire, may be provided by the consumer or MEC. The consumer must pay in advance, a contribution of 100% of the estimated materials, installation and retirement cost (no credit for salvage will be granted) of providing the temporary facilities. In either case, MEC provides, at no cost, the transformer and meter.

IDLE SERVICE FEE

There is an Idle Service Fee of $12.50 per month to retain an idle service. An idle service is defined as facilities which were placed for power delivery and have not been utilized for two or more consecutive years.