EFFECTIVE April 1, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. (March 2, 2021) - The Lakeland City Commission voted Monday, March 1, to increase the electric fuel charge for Lakeland Electric customers for the next fiscal quarter (April/May/Jun. 2021). After giving a presentation at the Utility Committee meeting on Monday, staff recommended increasing the fuel charge by $5.00 from $35.00 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to $40.00 per 1,000 kWh.

The fuel charge will change to 4¢ per kWh. Multiplying the fuel charge by 1,000 kWh, the amount an average residential home utilizes in a month, the cost equals $40.00 per 1,000 kWh for fuel.

The increase in the fuel charge is partially a result of a spike in all fuel types used during this winter's polar vortex weather event causing the coldest February since 1950. The increase will also bring the utility fuel reserve balance back into compliance with the policy.

Lakeland Electric continues to have some of the lowest electric rates in the state. As with most electric utilities that generate their own power, the cost of fuel is passed directly to customers. This makes the fuel charge an important part of Lakeland Electric's ongoing effort to keep our customer's electric costs low.