Power Supply Adjustment

Since 2005, the PSA has been a charge or credit applied to customer bills based on kWh energy usage. The PSA is used to offset the variances that occur over time between the base rate and actual power supply costs. It can vary between a one-cent per kWh charge and a half-cent per kWh credit. The PSA is reviewed and can be adjusted twice a year to be effective on June 1st and December 1st.

The PSA is a per kWh charge or credit, which takes into account variances in the District’s net power supply cost compared to the amount that is in the base rates. The power supply costs include such items as purchased electricity and fuel.  When calculated, the PSA charge or credit takes into account the previous 6 months power supply expenses and the forward 12 month projection of power supply costs. When those calculations show an increase, the PSA can increase, when they show a decrease, the PSA can decrease. However, the PSA cannot go above one-cent per kWh charge or below a half-cent per kWh credit, regardless of the change in power supply costs.

The PSA is intended to vary and account for changes in power supply costs. It is not an increase in our base rates. Unlike a base rate increase, the PSA is not fixed and will be adjusted down, should power supply costs decrease.

The PSA was adopted in December 2004 and historically has changed on the following dates.

• June 2006: -$0.002
• June 2007: $0.006
• December 2007: $0.009
• December 2008: $0.01
• June 2012: -$0.005

The PSA is reviewed twice a year and takes into account the previous 6 months power supply expenses and the forward 12 month projection of power supply costs. When those calculations show an increase, the PSA can increase, when they show a decrease, the PSA can decrease.

Go to My.TID.org to log into My TID. Here you can track your usage by kWh or by amount spent on energy daily, weekly or each month. You can also compare your current spending and usage to the same time frame last year.

TID strives to help all customers facing challenges managing their energy costs, with a number of assistance programs to make bill payment and budgeting easier. Customers can contact Customer Service at (209) 883-8222 or visit TID.org to inquire about these programs and possible payment arrangements.

TID has programs available to assist customers in paying their electric bills.

• TID CARES – Qualifying households receive an $11 discount on the customer charge along with a 15 percent cost reduction for the first 800 kWh.
• Medical Assistance Program – Discounts are offered to eligible customers with life support equipment in their homes or medical conditions requiring special heating or air conditioning temperatures. The discount reduces the amount you pay for the first 500 kWh of electricity used in your home each month by 50 percent.
• Weatherization Program – Income-qualified customers can participate in our Weatherization Program at no cost. The Weatherization Program can reduce energy bills by making your home more energy efficient and lowering the amount of your TID bill while helping you keep warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
• Budget Billing – This program simply divides the annual electric bill of participating customers into equal monthly payments, eliminating the highs and lows that come with hot and cold months.  TID recalculates your monthly amount due each year in March and September, helping you stay on budget.
• LIHEAP Energy Assistance – The LIHEAP assistance program is a federally funded program that helps those in both struggling and lower-income households pay their home energy bills. The program assists lower-income families and households meet their immediate home energy needs.

Customer Charge: This is a fixed cost based on costs for metering, billing, collection, and related costs.

Energy Charge – The cost of energy based on the amount of electricity consumed each month, in addition to the costs of operating and maintaining the electrical transmission and distribution system, as well as virtually every business service related to providing and planning electric delivery functions.

Environmental Charge – The cost to the District to comply with the environmental laws, rules and regulations.

Public Benefits Charge – Mandated by the State of California to fund renewable resources, energy efficiency programs, low-income assistance and energy research and development projects.  The rate is 2.85% of the amount billed.

State Surcharge – A utility tax collected and administered by the State of California.