Customer Charge

A flat monthly fee that covers a portion of the basic costs of providing electric service. It covers costs for meter reading, billing and customer service.

Utility Charge (kWh charge)

This charge is multiplied by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used in a monthly billing period. It covers the costs to maintain power plants and substations, interest on loans as well as wires, power poles and transformers.

Fuel and Purchased Power

This charge is based on a combination of forecasted and actual power costs. The monthly charge allows Golden Valley to pass on increases and decreases in fuel and energy purchases to our members. It is calculated quarterly and is also multiplied by the kilowatt-hours used each month.

Regulatory Charge

Since November 1, 1992, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), has been funded by a Regulatory Charge to the utilities it regulates rather than through the State general fund. The charge, labeled "Regulatory Cost Charge" on your bill, is set by the RCA and applies to all retail kilowatt-hours sold by regulated electric utilities in Alaska.

Demand Charge

GS2 and GS3 rates for business and industry include a demand charge per kilowatt. Demand is the maximum rate of delivery of electric energy during the month, measured in kilowatts and registered as the highest average rate of energy used over and fifteen-minute period during the month.

What is a kilowatt-hour?

We usually use the term kilowatts (one kilowatt is 1,000 watts) when speaking of power production or power needs. A power plant makes kilowatts; we sell power in units called kilowatt-hours (kWh). For example, a 100-watt light bulb left on for ten hours uses one kWh of electricity. A typical GVEA residential consumer uses 700 kWh per month.

You can calculate your monthly bill based on your prior kWh usage with our bill calculator. Your kWh usage is shown on your monthly billing statement.