Understanding the WPCA Charge on Your Electric Bill
At JOEMC, we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to our members. As a not-for-profit cooperative, our rates are based on the actual cost of providing electricity—factoring in wholesale power, maintaining our system, and a small margin for financial stability. Unfortunately, the cost of wholesale power—the largest portion of our operating costs—has increased more than originally forecasted. Effective this month, a Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) will appear on your bill. For the average household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), this will mean an increase of approximately $7.50 per month.
Why the Change?
Nationwide trends are impacting the electric industry:
• Rising fuel and materials costs
• Increased electricity demand
• Retirement of aging power plants without immediate
replacements
These factors are driving up the cost of power generation and transmission for all utilities—not just JOEMC.
Our Commitment to You
We work alongside other North Carolina electric cooperatives to maintain a strong and diversified energy portfolio—including nuclear, natural gas, hydro, and renewable resources—to ensure long-term reliability and affordability.
Our goal is to protect members from rising costs, and this adjustment is based on a thorough cost-of-service study. However, if wholesale power costs decrease, the WPCA will be reduced or eliminated.
How You Can Manage Your Usage
JOEMC offers tools and programs to help you take control of your energy use and monthly bills:
• Home energy audits
• Online energy calculators
• Daily Notifications Alerts
• Tracking Your Usage
Below you will find a sample breakdown of the rate change.
| WPCA Rate Increase Breakdown | |
| Monthly Usage (kWhs) | Additional Monthly Cost (WPCA) |
| 1,000 kWh’s | $7.50 |
| 1,250 kWh’s | $9.37 |
| 1,500 kWh’s | $11.25 |
| 1,750 kWh’s | $13.12 |
| 2,000 kWh’s | $15.00 |
