Commission Votes to Lower Fuel Rate by $5 Beginning July 1

City Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday, May 4, to lower the Lakeland Electric fuel rate by $5 beginning July 1, 2026.

After rising by $15 in April, the monthly fuel charge will go from $62 to $57 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours.

“We never really get to cheer about lowering rates, but we will today,” said Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley.

On Friday, May 1, Sandra Ruede, fuels manager, told the city’s Utility Committee that the Lakeland Electric’s reserves are bouncing back from the January-February deficit faster than expected. She said that if markets remain stable, the city may be able to lower rates by another $5 in July.

On Monday, McCarley said that because the Utility Committee meets monthly, “We can be nimble, meaning we can pivot, and we can make better decisions with better information as we go.”

“We try to have reasonable lowest quartile prices for our customers,” said Stephanie Madden. “But fuel is something that’s a pass-through — we don’t make any money on the fuel, but we have to always gauge how expensive fuel is on the market and how available it is.”