Southern Pioneer Electric is passing through credits for billing adjustments from Sunflower Electric Power Corporation related to February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri to consumers in March 2023 billings. This pass-through credit will be reflected in the Energy Cost Adjustment (ECA) on consumers’ upcoming bills. The credits are the result of market settlements and billing adjustments related to the wholesale power and generation costs during the event.
The unprecedented winter storm event provided the cooperative with a $17-20 million addition to its February 2021 wholesale power bill. To recover costs incurred by the cooperative, Southern Pioneer implemented a “Storm Uri Recovery Charge” to amortize these costs over 36 months.
Sunflower Electric has been tracking the cumulative cost adjustments (Southwest Power Pool market settlements, natural gas billing adjustments, etc.) since Winter Storm Uri occurred in February 2021. Since the risk of additional adjustments is minimal, Sunflower is crediting the current balance of the adjustments, approximately $630,000, with February’s billing to Southern Pioneer Electric. In return, the Southern Pioneer Electric Board approved to return of the credit to consumers through its March 2023 ECA.
“Winter Storm Uri was an unprecedented event that some consumers are still feeling the impact of,” said Vice President of Energy Services, Anita Wendt. “This passthrough is the result of our commitment to ensure any credits Southern Pioneer receives directly benefit our consumers.”
Consumers may direct questions regarding the credit pass-through to the Southern Pioneer Electric customer service team by calling 620-624-7433 or 866-668-8800.