San Patricio Electric Cooperative is committed to providing reliable power and quality customer service at the lowest possible price. We have worked hard to control costs and haven’t increased our rates since 2006.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we operate at cost and raise charges only when necessary to improve and maintain electric service.
We've had a long track record -- 19 years --without increasing our rates. We understand that our members may have questions about why things are changing now. We hope you'll find the answers in the FAQ below. If you have additional questions, please contact us at 361-364-2220.
Rate Adjustment Frequently Asked Questions
As a nonprofit cooperative, SPEC sets our rates as close as possible to the cost of service. We have not increased rates since 2006. Since then, inflation has driven our costs higher than ever and put pressure on our operations.
We now need to implement a rate increase to ensure we can continue to provide the reliable electric service our members depend on.
The example below shows just how much materials prices have increased for your co-op since 2020.
We understand that our members are also feeling cost pressures in many aspects of their lives. We care about how this rate increase impacts our members, so we planned to spread out the increase over two phases. As we plan for the cooperative’s future costs, we believe our members should be able to plan for future costs too.
In the first phase, the average residential bill will see a total increase of $7.35 per month, or approximately 24 cents per day. This adjustment includes a $2.50 increase to the Customer Charge and a $0.00375 per kWh increae to the Distribution Energy Charge.
|
Rate Class |
Phase 1 (effective May 1, 2025) |
|||
|
Customer Charge Increase |
Distribution Energy Increase |
New Customer Charge |
New Distribution Energy Rate |
|
|
Residential |
$2.50 |
0.00375 per kWh |
$24.00 |
$0.03875 |
|
Residential Seasonal |
$2.50 |
0.00375 per kWh |
$24.00 |
$0.06225 |
|
Small Commercial |
$2.50 |
0.00375 per kWh |
$24.00 |
$0.03875 |
|
Three Phase Services |
$2.50 |
0.00375 per kWh |
$27.50 |
$0.06225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer Charge Increase |
Demand Charge Increase |
New Customer Charge |
New Demand Charge |
|
Irrigation Bundled |
$7.50 |
$1.15 per kW |
$82.50 |
7.55 per kW |
|
Irrigation Coincident Peak |
$7.50 |
$0.55 per kW |
$107.50 |
$5.05 per kW |
|
Irrigation Time of Day |
$7.50 |
$0.55 per kW |
$107.50 |
$5.05 per kW |
In the second phase, residential bills will increase by $2.50 per month, or approximately 8 cents per day.
|
Rate Class |
Phase 2 (effective May 1, 2026) |
|||
|
Customer Charge Increase |
Distribution Energy Increase |
New Customer Charge |
Distribution Energy Rate |
|
|
Residential |
$2.50 |
None |
$26.50 |
$0.38750 |
|
Residential Seasonal |
$2.50 |
None |
$26.50 |
$0.06225 |
|
Small Commercial |
$2.50 |
None |
$26.50 |
$0.38750 |
|
Three Phase Services |
$2.50 |
None |
$30.00 |
$0.62250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer Charge Increase |
Demand Charge Increase |
New Customer Charge |
Demand Charge |
|
Irrigation Bundled |
$7.50 |
$1.15 per kW |
$90.00 |
$8.70 per kW |
|
Irrigation Coincident Peak |
$7.50 |
$0.55 per kW |
$115.00 |
$5.60 |
|
Irrigation Time of Day |
$7.50 |
$0.55 per kW |
$115.00 |
$5.60 |
The change will appear on the bill you receive at the end of May 2025 for Phase 1.
The Phase 2 change will be effective on the bill you receive at the end of May 2026.
SPEC hired a third-party consultant, C. H. Guernsey, to conduct a Cost-of-Service Study and review our rate structure. Following that analysis, the cooperative determined it was necessary to increase rates for several rate classes which were underperforming compared to the others. These rate classes are not generating the rates of return needed to meet our current and future cost of service.
We are a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative. We exist to serve our members with reliable, affordable power. Any margins (profits) we receive are invested in the electric system or refunded to you, the member-owner of SPEC, in the form of capital credits.
SPEC’s bills are split into two sections: SPEC Distribution Charges and STEC Power Supplier Charges.
This rate change will affect SPEC’s Distribution Charges only. The customer charge and electric use charge in this portion of your bill exist to cover the cost of bringing power to your meter, including such things as electrical wire, transformers, poles, maintenance, co-op employees and administrative costs.
The STEC Power Supplier Charges go to South Texas Electric Cooperative, which generates the power you use in your home. SPEC purchases electricity from STEC at wholesale prices and passes those costs through at no markup.
We separate these charges out on our bill so our members get transparency on where their dollars are going.
SPEC offers tips and tools to help reduce your energy usage and manage costs, such as:
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Energy saving tips on our website
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Usage monitoring tools in SmartHub
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Free energy audits, during which SPEC makes energy saving recommendations specific to your home
As a nonprofit cooperative, SPEC sets our rates as close as possible to the cost of service. Although we are adjusting our rates, we remain competitive with other utilities in the area and state.
Yes. A meeting to discuss the proposed rate changes will be held at the office of San Patricio Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 402 East Sinton Street, Sinton, Texas on April 15, at 5:30 p.m.