SLEMCO Is Adding a New Charge to Your Bill Starting in July — Here’s Why and How Much It Will Cost

LAFAYETTE, La. - If you are a customer of the power company SLEMCO here in Acadiana, you might want to check your email because they just sent you a "love note." Okay, it may not be exactly that, but it's news you will want to be aware of.

The email states that your bill will go up ever so slightly over the next several months. The reason? Its system was damaged by Mother Nature over two years ago.

Why Is SLEMCO Adding a Charge? The Three 2024 Storms That Started It

According to SLEMCO, tornadoes and straight-line winds hit its service area in April 2024, causing multi-day outages and damage to its entire system. Then, in mid-May of the same year, another major storm passed through, knocking power out and causing major damage that left 43,000 customers out of power for multiple days. And, finally, in June of 2024, it happened again.

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Each storm caused outages and damage similar to hurricanes, according to SLEMCO officials. Unlike hurricanes, the damage didn't qualify for FEMA reimbursement.

How Much Will the Storm Rider Charge Cost SLEMCO Members?

As a result, SLEMCO will notice a line-item increase on their bills to cover costs associated with those storms of 2024. The monthly cost, starting with the July billing, will be approximately $1.40 per 1,000 kWh used. (I looked at my last bill, and our family used 2,128 kWh. Had that line-item charge been in place, the extra amount would have been about $3.)

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How Long Will the Storm Rider Charge Last?

The storm rider charge will be added to SLEMCO members' bills for no more than 12 months. If the storm costs are recovered within a shorter timeframe, then the line-item charge will be discontinued.

The last time SLEMCO used a temporary line-item surcharge on bills was from August 2021 through late 2023. The 24-month charge averaged about $1.70 per month and was used to recover millions in non-FEMA restoration costs after Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida.

SLEMCO's Message to Members About the Storm Rider

The email sent out by SLEMCO ended as follows:

We understand this is not welcome news. In fact, we understand this is the last thing you want to hear. Cooperatives like SLEMCO are owned by the members they serve, and extraordinary costs, just like savings, are shared by all based on the amount of electricity your family uses. If you have any questions, call our Member Services Department at 896-5200. They will be able to answer your questions.