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Greenville Utilities presents FY26–27 budget and warns customers of modest rate increases tied to wholesale energy costs
Summary
Greenville Utilities Commission presented a proposed $330 million FY26–27 budget on May 14, citing higher wholesale power, natural gas and material costs and forecasting a modest average monthly impact of about $10.19 for customers receiving all four utilities; staff outlined customer-assistance programs and use of a rate-stabilization fund.
Greenville Utilities Commission staff presented a recommended FY26–27 budget and rate forecast at the Greenville City Council meeting on May 14, explaining that higher wholesale power and fuel costs, chemical-price increases and infrastructure spending are pushing up customer bills.
General Manager Tony Cannon said the utility’s proposed total budget is approximately $330 million, with purchase power and purchased gas forming the largest single expense categories. Cannon and CFO Jeff McCauley outlined projected rate changes and the mechanisms utilities use to smooth short-term volatility, including a rate‑stabilization fund. McCauley said the electric fund had been used in prior years to mitigate spikes and that staff plans to transfer $3.5 million into the stabilization fund to offset next year’s wholesale cost increases.
GUC provided a typical-bill example: for a household receiving all four Greenville services, the combined proposed increase would be about $10.19 per month, composed roughly of electric +$2.34, water +$1.46, sewer +$1.98 and gas +$0.41. Cannon said those figures reflect wholesale forecasts and other operating pressures; some riders and true-ups also affect short-term bills. The utility said the projected electric wholesale increases over the next several years would translate into a smaller percent increase at the customer-bill level once amortized and passed through standard adjustments.
The GUC presentation also reviewed customer-assistance and outreach work. The utility reported emergency and assistance payments coordinated through the Department of Social Services and community organizations: in the prior period, DSS administered nearly 3,899 account payments totaling ~$752,659 and other community payments and extensions approached several million in total (staff presented aggregated figures). Cannon said staff would continue working with social-service partners to mitigate hardship and would present a detailed public hearing and budget adoption timeline at the next council meeting.
Council did not take final action on rates at the May 14 meeting; staff said a public hearing is scheduled at the next council meeting and the utility expects any new base-rate elements to take effect July 1 if approved by the board and council.
