Winter Bill FAQs

Massena Electric purchases 100% of the electricity consumed by its customers, this includes a fixed allocation of hydroelectric power from the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Any power purchased above that allocation is supplemental or incremental power and is bought at market prices. The PPAC serves as a way to recover the cost of power purchased and is based on actual power related expenditures from the prior month.

The hydro allocation Massena Electric receives from NYPA accounts for roughly 70% of the power purchased annually to meet the needs of our customers. During heating months, the allocation accounts for less than 60% of the power needed, forcing Massena Electric to purchase more supplemental power, increasing the PPAC.

Power related expenditures during December 2025 exceeded $1.4 million which is more than double the amount from November 2025 and 50% higher than December 2024. January 2026 bills reflect the higher costs, and the increased consumption related to the cold temperatures throughout December.

Each year from December through April, residential customers that use more than 1,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) during the month are charged the Supplemental PPAC on usage above 1,500 kWh. The Supplemental PPAC was initially implemented in 2015 to allocate increases in power expenditures related to electric heat.

Costs associated with purchasing supplemental power are reflected in the Supplemental PPAC. For the second consecutive winter these expenditures exceeded $1.1 million during a single month. The cost of supplemental power was over $1.1 million in January 2025 and December 2025. Compared to January 2024 and December 2024, supplemental power costs during these months in 2025 were over $500,000 higher.

NO. Cold temperatures extended throughout the Northeast, driving up usage and price of electricity. In December 2025 the average market price for electricity was over 9.5¢ per kWh and exceeded 24¢ per kWh during peak hours. During the same months in 2023 and 2024 the average was 6¢ per kWh.

Even with these high prices, Massena Electric bills are still well below the neighboring Investor Owned Utility (IOU).

Yes. Massena Electric has a budget billing program. This will not reduce the amount you owe. However, it will spread out these high heating bills over the course of the next several months. If you are interested in a levelized payment plan, call 315-764-0253 and ask about Budget Billing.

If you need assistance with your bill, you can contact HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) at 315-379-2303. This program is income based. Those that qualify can receive a regular heating benefit and an emergency benefit.

Small changes can help lower your bill (switch to LED bulbs, turn off lights, appliances, TVs and computers when not in use). Other changes may require more extensive work (insulating attic and walls). Massena Electric’s “Energy Makeover” program can assist you in identifying improvements to make your home or business more efficient. To get started call Massena Electric at 315-764-0253 or Energy Answers at 315-750-0226 to set up an Audit. The cost of the Audit is $50 for residential customers. Audits for commercial customers and landlords are also available. The cost of these audits will vary.