Residents across the Tennessee Valley will see higher energy charges beginning October 1, 2023. For Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative members, the increase is a result of changes made by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the cooperative. Compared to last month, the average MLEC residential member will pay 2.40 percent ($3.77) more.

TVA sites the need to construct new power plants, inflation and higher interest rates as the reason for their 4.5 percent energy charge increase. They have also removed the 2.5 percent Pandemic Relief Credit that has been extended to local power companies since...