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 January 2026 exceeded $3.0 million which is more than double the amount from last month and January 2025. To minimize the impact to February 2026 bills, Massena Electric received approval from its regulator to defer $998,000 in power costs to subsequent billing periods. The deferment will result in a lower PPAC for February, compared to the PPAC that would be charged if the full cost was included in the PPA calculation. A portion of the deferment will be applied to the March and April calculation, resulting in a higher PPA during those months. The PPA calculation for February, and the previous 12-months can be

viewed at massenaelectric.com/ppa.

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. In January 2026 these expenditures exceeded $2.5 million due to extended cold temperatures resulting in increased usage by customers and record high prices of electricity throughout New York State. The Supplemental PPAC for February reflects these costs, less the deferment approved by Massena Electric’s regulator. In March and April, the Supplement PPAC will be higher than normal, as some of the deferred costs are included in the PPA calculation for those months.

NO. Cold temperatures extended throughout the east coast, including below freezing temperatures and snow through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, driving up usage and price of electricity. In January 2026 the average market price for electricity in New York was over 19.0¢ per kWh 10.0¢ higher than last January, the previous high for Massena Electric.

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. There is no audit fee for residential customers. Audits for commercial customers and landlords are also available. The cost of these audits will vary.