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Athens Utilities proposes $2 monthly customer charge increase, pending TVA approval
Summary
Athens Utilities staff proposed raising the flat monthly residential customer charge by $2 Nov. 1, 2026 (and a possible additional $2 in 2027), citing 33% growth since 2018 and rising material costs; council approved submitting the adjustment to TVA for review.
Hunter, an Athens Utilities representative, presented the city’s proposal to adjust the retail electric rate structure and asked the council to approve submission to TVA for final approval. He said the utility’s residential fixed customer charge would rise from $18 by $2 on Nov. 1, 2026, with a possible additional $2 in 2027, to help cover operations and maintenance costs that have grown since 2018. "What we're proposing is a $2 increase for our residential customers and our commercial customers to become effective in November 1, pending TVA approval," he said.
Hunter framed the change as a measured step to keep Athens Utilities’ O&M funding aligned with rising material and service costs while avoiding larger usage-based increases that would particularly affect customers during extreme weather months. He noted Athens has grown about 33% since 2018 and that some equipment costs have risen between 30% and 140% since 2019–2020. The council voted 5–0 to adopt the retail rate adjustment resolution for bills with meter readings on or after Nov. 1, 2026, with final implementation contingent on TVA approval.
