Randy Price, President & CEO
At Paulding Putnam, we’re committed to transparency and keeping your rates as low as possible while ensuring the reliable service you’ve counted on for 90 years. That’s why we’re sharing details on an upcoming rate adjustment to our monthly Service Charge.
Effective February 1, 2026, the Service Charge will increase $3.50 per residential account (from $41.50 to $45) to help cover the fixed costs of maintaining our electric distribution system. The energy charge (based on kWh used) will not change. 
We know every dollar counts, especially as we all feel the pinch of inflation. As your fellow member and CEO, I pay my own bill each month and understand the weight of these changes. This isn’t a decision we make lightly – it’s driven by skyrocketing costs that are outpacing our revenues, much like the challenges that led our board to pause capital credit retirements earlier this year. We’re a not-for-profit co-op, owned by you, and our goal is always to protect the financial health of the system we all rely on.
How We Compare
Even after the increase, Paulding Putnam's residential rates are below the median across the state of Ohio, placing us in the top ten lowest rates among Ohio co-ops. Our rates are also 15.5% lower than neighboring utility AEP. 
What the Service Charge Covers – And Why It Matters
The Service Charge is a flat monthly fee that funds the backbone of your electric service, regardless of how much power you use. Just like your home or car insurance, you pay for access to the benefits. Even if you don’t turn on a light at home, we must still maintain our equipment so power is available to you 24/7/365.
Our service charge pays for:
- Infrastructure essentials: Poles, wires, substations, transformers, and meters.
- Ongoing maintenance: Tree trimming, pole testing, repairs, and upgrades to prevent outages
- Long-term stability: Interest, depreciation, and investments that keep the grid strong against storms and growing demands.
These aren’t optional – they’re the investments that ensure your lights stay on during a winter blackout or a summer heatwave. Without them, reliability suffers, and future costs could climb even higher.
Please note that the fiber internet division of our co-op is completely separate financially from the electric side.
The Service Charge does not go toward internet investments; it is used solely for ongoing electric service costs to provide power to your home or business.
The Reality of Rising Costs: Honest Numbers Behind the Adjustment
From 2020 to 2024 alone, our cost to deliver electricity rose 30.2% while sales grew just 21.6% – an 8.6% margin squeeze on our electric operations. This trend mirrors broader pressures on Ohio’s rural cooperatives, where average monthly bills have climbed about 30% since 2015 (from around $107 to $139 statewide), according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Specific to Paulding Putnam:
- Padmount transformers: Up 77% since 2019.
- Underground wire: Up 31% over the same period.
- Arrestor poles with crossarm brackets: Up 63%.
- Property taxes: An extra $70,000+ from 2024 to 2025 alone.
Add in statewide drivers like an 833% surge in capacity auction prices for 2025-2026 (per PJM Interconnection) due to surging demand from data centers, electrification, and supply constraints in PJM’s grid (covering Ohio and 12 other states/D.C.).
It’s clear: costs are climbing faster than we can offset through efficiencies or member growth. This adjustment helps bridge that gap without touching your per-kWh rate, keeping the overall impact minimal.
We’re Here for You – Every Step of the Way
We get it – no one likes seeing their bill go up, and we’re empathetic to the real needs in our communities, from fixed-income families to growing farms. That’s why we’re offering help:
- Free energy audits to spot savings.
- Rebates on efficient appliances and upgrades.
- Budget billing to even out seasonal spikes.
- Payment plans and aid for those in a bind.
Paulding Putnam isn’t a corporation chasing profits – we’re your neighbors, investing in a co-op that serves our communities today and tomorrow. Questions? Call us at 800-686-2357, email member_services@ppec.coop, or stop by.
For more information on our rates, please click here.