[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” width=”100%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA)” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_level=”h2″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”A Message to Our Customers” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_level=”h3″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Western Carolina Power is your local public power utility. We live here, we work here, and we serve this community directly.<\/span><\/p>\n WCP does not generate electricity. We purchase wholesale power under a long-term agreement and deliver it to homes and businesses through our local electric system. The Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA) is simply the mechanism that reflects what we actually pay for that wholesale electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n We do not profit from the PPA. It is a direct pass-through of costs, with no markup or added margin.<\/span><\/p>\n Our responsibility is to recover the actual cost of power while maintaining a safe, reliable, and financially stable electric system for Cullowhee and the surrounding community.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Frequently Asked Questions” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_level=”h2″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ icon_color=”#592C88″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”26px” open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” border_width_bottom=”1px” open_toggle_text_color=”#592C88″ toggle_text_color=”#262626″ toggle_level=”h3″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_margin=”||||false|false” border_color_all=”#EAE4DA” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why does WCP adjust the PPA each year?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” open=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Wholesale power costs change annually. Instead of filing a full rate case every year, WCP performs an annual true-up to compare:<\/span><\/p>\n If costs exceed projections, the PPA is adjusted upward. If costs were lower, the PPA would be adjusted downward.<\/span><\/p>\n This annual true-up keeps the process transparent and prevents long-term over- or under-collection.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why did the PPA increase this year?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” open=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The increase reflects:<\/span><\/p>\n WCP does not control wholesale fuel prices.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Does WCP make money from this adjustment?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n No. WCP is a not-for-profit public power utility. The PPA is a direct pass-through of wholesale costs.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why can\u2019t WCP absorb these increases?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n Wholesale power is WCP\u2019s largest operating expense. Absorbing those costs would reduce operating reserves and jeopardize long-term financial stability. As a cost-of-service utility, WCP must recover the actual cost of providing electric service.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why doesn\u2019t WCP have a rate stabilization fund?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has not allowed WCP to implement a rate stabilization fund or a formal levelized billing mechanism that some non-regulated utilities use.<\/span><\/p>\n WCP must pay wholesale power invoices when they are due, while customers repay those costs over a 12-month billing cycle. This timing difference can create cash-flow pressure during periods of higher costs. WCP continues to pursue regulatory tools to better smooth cost volatility.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Is this related to infrastructure or staffing costs?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n No. This adjustment only reflects wholesale power costs. Base facility charges and other fees remain unchanged unless separately approved.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Do all customers see the same impact?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”on”]<\/p>\n No. Bill impacts vary depending on:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Will rates continue to increase?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n The PPA may increase or decrease in future years depending on wholesale market conditions. Last year, WCP decreased the PPA following lower costs.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Does this affect reliability?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n No. The PPA ensures continued access to reliable wholesale generation while WCP maintains and operates the local electric distribution system.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What is WCP doing to manage costs?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n WCP continues to:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Is financial assistance available?” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”et_body_layout” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Customers experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact WCP customer service. Assistance programs and payment arrangements may be available.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Western Carolina Power is your local public power utility. We live here, we work here, and we serve this community directly. WCP does not generate electricity. We purchase wholesale power under a long-term agreement and deliver it to homes and businesses through our local electric system. The Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA) is simply the mechanism […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1327,"featured_media":0,"parent":10053,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10526","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1327"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10526"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10531,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10526\/revisions\/10531"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/wcpower\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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