Lower Valley Energy Approves Modernized Electric Rate Structure to Support Long-Term Reliability

Posted: July 15, 2026

Afton, Wyoming — Lower Valley Energy (LVE) today announced that its elected Board of Directors has approved updates to both its electric rate structure and electric rates, effective with October 2026 bills. Overall electric revenues will increase by approximately 6%. The impact on individual member bills will vary based on each member’s energy use and peak demand. The new rates and structure for all service categories can be viewed on our website along with additional educational information.

As a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, Lower Valley Energy is committed to providing safe, reliable service at competitive rates. The approved changes reflect the rising cost of providing electric service, including increases in wholesale power costs from the Bonneville Power Administration, inflation affecting equipment, materials, and operating expenses, as well as the continued investment required to maintain, replace, and improve the electric system. These investments help ensure safe, reliable service for our members today and into the future.

To better align bills with how members use the electric system, LVE is updating its rate design:

• Updated Monthly Base Charge: LVE is adjusting how this fixed cost is calculated; many members will see a reduction in this charge.
• Energy Charge: The residential energy rate remains unchanged at 6.2 cents per kilowatt-hour.
• New Demand Charge: Residential, small commercial, and small irrigation members will now have a demand charge, similar to the way large commercial and irrigation members have long been billed. The demand charge is based on each member’s highest consecutive 15-minute period of electricity use during the monthly billing cycle and helps more closely align the cost of providing electric service with how members use the electric system

The updated rate structure follows over six months of Board review, cost-of-service consultation, and input from a Member Advisory Committee, which provided insightful feedback on both the proposed rate design and member communication plan.

“Our responsibility is to ensure Lower Valley Energy continues providing the reliable electric service our members depend on every day while being good stewards of the cooperative’s resources,” said Bear Prairie, Chief Executive Officer. “These updates continue our transition toward a rate structure that more closely reflects how members use the electric system, while providing the revenue needed to responsibly maintain and improve the infrastructure that serves our communities.”
“We understand that any change to electric bills raises questions. That’s why we’ve worked hard to provide members with the tools and information they need to understand these changes before they appear on their bills this fall. Through our website, bill calculator, educational videos, FAQs, and Member Services team, we’re committed to making this transition as transparent and understandable as possible.”

Members are encouraged to use Lower Valley Energy’s online Bill Estimation Calculator to compare their current bill with the new rate structure. Educational videos, frequently asked questions, bill examples, and additional information are also available on the cooperative’s website. Members may monitor their monthly demand through SmartHub or contact Member Services at (307) 885-3175 with questions.