MANSFIELD - Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, which serves parts of Clinton and Lycoming counties, hopes to provide some additional holiday cheer to its 16,500 members by lowering their cost-of-service charge for one month.
At its November meeting, the cooperative's board of directors approved a resolution to reduce the monthly cost-of-service charge for all members by $15.25. This one-time reduction will apply to all rate classes.
The rate reduction will be reflected in electric bills mailed in December to all residential, commercial and industrial consumers. Seasonal members will receive the cost-of-service reduction in either December or January, depending on their billing cycle.
"This is one way we can give something back to our members," said Barbara J. Seeley, chairperson of Tri-County's board of directors. "Since Christmas is the season for giving, the timing of this rate reduction couldn't be more appropriate."
Craig Eccher, president and chief executive officer, credits the cooperative's stronger-than-anticipated fiscal year for making the rate reduction possible.
"Our employees and board have worked diligently to hold down operating costs over the course of the year," Eccher said. "As a result we ended the year in excellent financial shape."
Because the cooperative is a member-owned, nonprofit organization, Tri-County's board of directors decided to show its appreciation to members by lowering their electric bills for one month, Eccher said.
"In light of today's challenging economic climate and our better-than-expected financial results for the year, we felt it was appropriate to reduce each member's cost-of-service charge," Eccher explained. "That's just one of the many benefits of membership in a cooperative utility."
Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, with headquarters in Mansfield, provides electric distribution service to more than 16,500 consumers in Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Bradford, McKean and Cameron counties.
