Rates & Fees
Notice of Rate Case Public Hearing
CITY OF BURLINGTON ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT REQUESTING A 5.5% RATE INCREASE
PUC Case No. 24-1848-TF
The Public Utility Commission will hold a public hearing to receive input concerning the tariff filing of the City of Burlington Electric Department requesting an overall rate increase of 5.5% effective with service rendered on or after August 1, 2024.
The virtual public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, commencing at 7:00 P.M., utilizing GoToMeeting video conference with a telephone call-in option. The Public Hearing will commence at 7:00 P.M., or immediately following a presentation at 6:30 P.M. hosted by the Vermont Department of Public Service where the City of Burlington Electric Department will describe the rate increase and be available to answer questions.
Participants and members of the public may access the public hearing online at https://meet.goto.com/783355557, or call in by telephone using the following information: phone number: +1 (571) 317-3116; access code: 783-355-557. Participants may wish to download the GoToMeeting software application in advance of the hearing at https://meet.goto.com/install. Guidance on how to join the meeting and system requirements may be found at https://www.gotomeeting.com/meeting/online-meeting-support.
Rates and Energy Assistance Update for Fiscal Year 2025
Three years ago, Burlington Electric Department (BED) had our first rate increase in 12 years, coming out of the pandemic. At that time, we shared with our customers that, while we likely would need more frequent rate changes going forward, we would seek to have them be more moderate than the 7.5 percent for fiscal year (FY) 2022. Over the last two years, we were able to hold the rate changes to 3.95 percent in FY23 and 5.5 percent in FY24. For upcoming FY25, we are proposing another 5.5 percent rate change, which would take effect as a surcharge on customer bills starting in September 2024. Taken together, BED’s rate changes over the last several years still will be lower than the inflation rate and far below the national average increase for electricity prices. BED’s residential rates will remain some of the lowest in Vermont and the New England region.
BED also wants to ensure that we provide support for our income-qualified customers who need assistance. That is why we filed for and recently received approval from the Public Utility Commission to make our Energy Assistance Program, first piloted three years ago, a permanent program. The program will continue to provide a 12.5 percent discount for eligible customers. Additional updates were made to boost enrollment for eligible customers. Please visit burlingtonelectric.com/help or call 802.865.7300 to learn more about the proposed rate change and how to sign up for the Energy Assistance Program.
Further, we encourage customers to learn about opportunities to save energy and money through efficiency measures by connecting with our Energy Services team for a free consultation.
Residential Service
Residential customer rates fall into one of two categories: standard residential service (RS), or time-of-use service (RT). Service under these rates is available to residential customers for all domestic purposes in a single-family home or apartment.
For information about net metering rates, visit our Solar Billing page or download the Net Metering tariff sheet (PDF).
Standard residential service
$9.68 $0.127404/kWh $0.174168/kWh $0.00804/kWh 3.5% (exclusive of Initial Block of power) $0.075691/kWh |
Residential Service Tariff Sheet
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Customer-Owned)
Receive a monthly Electric Vehicle Charging Credit on your bill when charging exclusively during the EV Charging Hours from 10pm to 12pm (noon the following day) or other hours available under the EV Charging Options. Applicable for Residential, Small General and Large General Service with BED-approved devices. Visit the links below to find out if you are eligible and how you can join.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (BED-Owned)
Service under this rate is available for public use of Burlington Electric Department (BED) owned and maintained EV charging stations. View the map of charging stations.
- Customer Charge: not applicable
- Energy Charge: $.21 per kWh for all kWh consumed
- Other Fees: $1 per hour or part thereof of session length (i.e. continuous occupation of the charging station location) over 4 hours for all charging stations except those designated by BED for overnight parking.
- Energy Efficiency Charge, Taxes and Local Fees: The energy charge shown above includes 6% Vermont Sales Tax, 1% Local Option Sales Tax, and 3.5% City Franchise Fee (on amounts exclusive of the Vermont Sales Tax). In addition to the energy charge shown above, the current Energy Efficiency Charge (EEC) per kWh for the SG rate shall be added to the kWh charge.
- BED-Owned EV Charging Station Tariff Sheet
Residential Service Time-of-Use (RT)
If you are interested in this rate, we will help you determine if it is beneficial to you.
$16.13
Summer On-Peak* Winter On-Peak* Off-Peak* $0.00804/kWh |
Residential Service Time-Of-Use Tariff Sheet
Residential Bill Example
Standard Residential Service, for 500 kWh used
The “Rate Increase” line items will be removed and become part of the standard fees upon regulatory approval.
Customer Charge | $9.68 | |
Initial Block | First 100 kWh x .127404 | $12.74 |
Energy Charge | 400 kWh x 0.174168 | $69.67 |
Energy Efficiency Charge | 500 kWh x .00804 | $4.02 |
Total Cost for Electricity Used | $96.11 | |
City Franchise Fee 3.5% *** | $2.78 | |
Total Bill | $98.89 |
***Franchise Fee is applied to customer charge and charges for consumption over 100 kWh.
Small General Service (SG)
This rate is available to customers who do not qualify for any other rate provided in these tariffs and where energy consumption does not exceed 3,000 kWh per month (or greater than or equal to an average of 100 kWh per day) for any 3 consecutive months out of the previous 12 months. See notes 1, 2 and 3.
$13.69 $0.184243 per kWh 6.0% $0.00679/kWh 3.5% (exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax) 1.0% |
Small General Service Tariff Sheet
Small General Service Time-of-Use (ST)
This rate applies to Small General Service customers who agree to take service for a minimum of 12 months. See notes 1, 2 and 3.
$29.03 $0.250165 per kWh $0.254162 per kWh $0.125581 per kWh 6.0% $0.00679/kWh 3.5% (exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax) 1.0% |
Small General Service Time-Of-Use Tariff Sheet
Large General Service (LG)
Energy usage over 3,000 kWh per month for three consecutive months in the last 12 months. See notes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
$16.13 $48.38 $0.097854 per kWh $23.61 $0.00414/kWh + $0.9945/kW $0.004013/kWh + $1.0279/kW 6.0% 3.5% (exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax) 1.0% |
Large General Service Tariff Sheet
Large General Service Time-of-Use (LT)
Service under this rate is available by contract for 12 months. See notes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
$32.24 $51.60 $0.127035 per kWh $0.136117 per kWh $0.090091 per kWh $30.03 $30.03 $4.16 6.0% 3.5% (exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax) $0.00414/kWh + $0.9945/kW 1.0% |
Large General Service Time-Of-Use Tariff Sheet
Primary Service (PS)
Service under this rate is available by contract for 12 months for all purposes where charges are based on demand and energy metered at 4,160 or 13,800 volts. This rate requires customer ownership of the transformer. See notes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
$1,451.28 $0.112648 per kWh $0.122387per kWh $0.079284 per kWh $29.68 $4.07 6.0% $0.00414/kWh + $0.9945/kW $0.004013/kWh + $1.0279/kW 3.5% (exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax) 1.0% |
Street Lights
For BED-owned municipal street lighting on city-accepted streets and overhead lighting illuminating private property where such lighting is not metered as a portion of the load served under another BED tariff.
Other
Time-of-Use Periods
Summer On-Peak: June 1st through September 30th, Mon-Fri, 12:01 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Winter On-Peak: December 1st through March 31st, Mon-Fri, 6:01 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Off-Peak: All non-On-Peak times, plus the months of April, May, October, and November
*Excludes New Year’s, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
Notes (Commercial Only)
- The Vermont Sales Tax may vary depending on a customer’s percentage of manufacturing space. Call the State’s Business Taxes Division at (802) 828-2551 to see if you qualify for a reduced rate.
- The City of Burlington charges BED ratepayers a City Franchise Fee based on 3.5% of current charges exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax.
- If payment is not received by BED on or before the next monthly billing date, a late payment charge of 1% shall be imposed upon the past-due balance.
- LG, LT, PS and PT customers shall maintain a power factor of 90% or pay a power factor penalty. For each 1% by which the average monthly power factor lags below 90%, the demand charge for that month shall be increased by 1%.
- Demand charge is based on the greater of the current month’s demand or 50% of the highest summer month’s demand (June through September) occurring within the preceding 11 months.
Fees
- Initial Service Fee: A $30.00 fee is charged each time you start electric service at a new location. If service is requested to be started during off hours (8 p.m.-7 a.m. and all day during holidays and weekends), the fee is $195.00.
- City Franchise Fee: The City of Burlington charges BED and other utilities a Franchise Fee based on 3.5% of current charges exclusive of Vermont Sales Tax. (Nonpayment is not subject to disconnection.)
- Energy Efficiency Charge (EEC): This fee appears on your bill and funds the energy efficiency programs at BED.
- Returned Check Fee: A $10 fee is charged each time a check is returned by the bank.
- Reconnection Fee: A $20 fee is required to reconnect service at a location that has been disconnected for non-payment. If this reconnection is done during off hours, the fee is $195.
- Meter Removal/Replacement Fee: BED will remove and replace a meter channel that houses up to two meters for the purpose of installing/replacing siding for $95.00. The fee must be paid in advance of the work. Removal or replacement of a meter channel with three or more meters must be completed by a certified electrician..
- Temporary Service Fee of $535, normally for construction purposes, will be charged when temporary service of single phase, 240 volt, 100 amp characteristics or less is installed at a site. For all other temporary services, charges will be based on estimated cost.
- Collection Fee: A $20 fee will be charged when BED personnel collect funds at a customer’s service location.
- Late Payment Fee (Commercial Only): If payment is not received by BED on or before the next monthly billing date, a late payment charge of 1% will be imposed upon the past-due balance.
- Customer Assistance Call: A $28 fee will be charged whenever BED is requested to visit a customer’s service location and the problem is determined to be the customer’s responsibility. If the service call is done during off hours, the fee is $195.
Important Information
Customer Charge: This includes the monthly cost of providing an electric meter, reading and servicing the meter, producing bills, and maintaining customer records.
Demand Charge: Large users of electricity are billed for their demand (kW) for electricity along with their kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption. The demand is the highest amount of electricity required at any one given time within a particular month. BED must have sufficient electricity and the proper equipment available (such as generating facilities, distribution lines, and transformers) to meet the customer’s maximum demand or load requirement. The demand charge is designed to cover these costs.
Residential 100 kWh Initial Block: The first 100 kWh of power each month is provided by BED at the same low rate year-round.
Repayment Agreement (Residential Only): BED’s Customer Service Department will work closely with customers to work out a reasonable repayment agreement when customers fall behind on their bills.
Budget Plan (Residential Only): BED offers a convenient 12-month budget payment plan that allows you to make your electric bill payments in 12 equal installments. Contact our Customer Service Area at 865-7300 for details.
Terms and Conditions: Commercial rates are billed monthly and are payable upon presentation of the bill.
If you have questions on your bill or a problem with your service, please call us at (802) 865-7300.