As a not-for-profit cooperative, GVEC’s primary focus is meeting the needs of our members reliably, safely and affordably. Our Board of Directors and staff work diligently to balance the cost of quality service with keeping rates reasonable and competitive. We ensure these rates are fair and comparable to surrounding providers with comprehensive Cost of Service and Rate studies by an independent third-party organization.
Maintaining strong financial performance and credit ratings is essential for supporting our business activities and keeping financial flexibility. It’s just as important to keep our members informed and empowered to help reduce demand, lower prices, and keep the electric grid reliable for years to come.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ELECTRIC BILL
Have you ever looked at your electric bill and wondered about the charges? If so, we are here to answer your questions and provide the tools, resources and information to help you understand your bill and home usage patterns.
All residential electric bills are split into two basic components: Distribution, including Delivery and Service Availability charges, and Generation and Transmission (G&T). This is the same for our commercial and industrial members.
Distribution Charge –Reflects the dollars GVEC charges to distribute electricity to your location. Used for the operation and maintenance of the electric system and broken down into these charges on your bill:
• Service Availability Charge – Covers the costs associated with having power available to your meter, whether or not electricity is used.
• Delivery Charge – Covers the costs associated with delivering power and is based on actual kWh consumption (electricity that is used monthly).
Generation & Transmission (G&T) Charge – Reflects the dollars GVEC pays to wholesale power suppliers, which we pass directly to our members with no markup from GVEC. The Cooperative shields members from fluctuating market prices by setting a flat recovery rate for a set time.
SEASONAL USAGE AND WINTER ENERGY SPIKES
Think back to the extremely cold weather from January 20-24, when we received a rare Texas snowfall and all spent more time indoors, running heating units continuously and using more energy for heating water, entertainment or working from home. If you’re like most of us, you likely saw the impact of that increased energy use when your latest bill arrived. While GVEC’s rates don’t fluctuate with the seasons, your bill can vary due to changes in energy usage patterns from one billing cycle to the next, especially with extreme temperatures.
Weather matters when it comes to electricity use! For example, your heating system has to work harder to maintain comfort during extreme temperatures, particularly lasting consecutive hours and several days. To help understand the contributors to higher seasonal bills, GVEC offers the MyGVEC app that correlates usage with daily outdoor temperatures. You can also do a deeper dive and review the past month’s usage for comparison, see which appliances in your home use the most electricity or utilize AI predictive analysis for future billing estimates, among many other activities to manage your account and usage.
In addition to the MyGVEC app, I encourage you to take full advantage of the free energy-saving tips, home energy audits, and discounts on energy-efficient heating and AC systems. You can also save and earn money with programs like Time of Use, Peak-Time Payback and other rebate offers.
Spring is near, bringing hopes of some mild temperatures before the Texas heat returns. If you have questions or need guidance, our team is here to help every step of the way. As always, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns by phone at 830.857.1152, by email at dschauer@gvec.org or by mail at P.O. Box 118, Gonzales, Texas 78629.
