A $4.00 service charge increase for all Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative residential and general service accounts will take effect October 1, 2026 (for use period beginning in September). This amount will be reflected in the monthly service charge, which is included in the ‘Distribution’ line on your monthly bill. There is no change to the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour.
Members will notice this on the bill generated in October (for September energy consumption). This is the co-op’s first rate adjustment since January of 2025.
Service you can count on
Maintaining reliable electric service is the top priority in shaping your co-op’s rates. We consistently hear that you appreciate the reliability of your service. Earlier this spring, when extreme winds consistently hammered the area, we heard many tales from members who had minimal or no service interruptions, while customers of neighboring utilities experienced more frequent or longer outages. That reliability is no accident, but it comes at a cost.
Our proactive approach to maintaining our electric distribution system — ensuring that poles are in good shape, conductor is strong, and trees are trimmed away from lines — helps us reduce outages. The cost to maintain our system (meters, poles, wire, etc.) has increased sharply in recent years. Despite these increases, we must continue efforts to maintain and upgrade our system. To delay these efforts would only result in worse reliability — and ultimately more costly repairs in the long term!
We’re in this together
Before implementing a rate increase, your co-op’s staff and board participate in rate committee meetings, review cost-of-service studies, and consider the effects on the membership. Your locally elected trustees live on our lines and pay the same rates you pay for electricity. Although this adjustment is necessary to maintain reliability, we’re here to help minimize the impact of increases to your energy budget.
We offer members options to help you contain energy costs, including flexible billing options, home energy consultations, and energy-saving calculators and tips. Small changes can reduce your use (and even offset or exceed the cost of a rate adjustment). View “101 low-cost/no-cost tips,” energy calculators, rebates, and more at MidOhioEnergy.com/efficiency.
If you have any questions regarding your rates or holding down energy costs, please reach out to us.
When it comes to rates and your electric cooperative...
Reliability matters. Reliable electric service is our top priority. The adjustment ensures we can continue maintaining equipment (poles, lines, etc.) as well as right-of-way management programs.
Rising costs are real. Like many organizations, we've experienced significant increases in costs across the board—from poles and transformers to digger and bucket trucks.
We’re member-owned, controlled by a local board of trustee-members. As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, decisions are made by a locally-elected board of trustees who receive service and pay the same rates as every member.
We're here to help. In addition to our efforts to hold down costs, we offer:
- Energy-saving resources
- Daily / hourly energy use data is available online or via our app
- Energy tips and consultations (https://www.MidOhioEnergy.com/efficiency)
- Energy calculators (https://www.MidOhioEnergy.com/calculators)
- Flexible billing options: