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The cooperative has been weighing whether an increase in the cost of wholesale power from its provider, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, would force LPEA to raise rates on customers next year.
Instead, LPEA intends to restructure its time-of-use program, which offers deals to customers for using power during hours when electricity use is not at its peak.
Starting Jan. 1, off-peak pricing hours will increase by 33 percent for residential and small commercial participants. That, combined with other factors, including refinancing debt, lower interest rates and a growing customer base, will keep the cooperative revenue-neutral and customer rates stable, said Dan Harms, manager of rates, technology and energy policy.
Harms said LPEA is able to expand the time-of-use program with help from new technology that allows the cooperative to better manage the flow of electricity when off-peak hours begin.
The new off-peak hours for residential and small commercial users will be 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Current off-peak hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Off-peak hours also will be adjusted for large commercial customers to 8 p.m. to 2 p.m. and all day Sunday, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
jpace@durangoherald.com
