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A PCA helps manage the fluctuating (increasing or decreasing) costs to purchase power. Members may see a PCA credit or charge on electric bills, depending on the wholesale power market.

When the cost to purchase power in our regional energy market is significantly more or less than anticipated, our wholesale power provider, Dairyland Power Cooperative, passes the difference to Riverland, and we pass a charge or credit to our members. (Read more about MISO regional energy market below.)

As a co-op, our rates are designed to reflect actual costs.

We provide transparency on electric bills with a PCA, so our members know what you are paying for.

1. The wholesale energy market is volatile. As the cost for electricity moves up or down, Riverland's power provider, Dairyland Power Cooperative, reacts with power cost adjustments, which are passed through to members.

2. Transmission lines that move renewable energy from where it is generated to where it is needed are congested. This raises energy market prices.

3. In the fall and spring, electricity needed by consumers is lower and power plants use this time to conduct much needed maintenance before winter and summer peak seasons. These scheduled outages for maintenance lower the power supply, which increase prices on the energy market.

We do not know how long this will last, or if it will happen again, but we are working to reduce other operating expenses. As the wholesale cost of power fluctuates with supply chain, high demand and inflation challenges, Riverland Energy members are seeing—and will continue to see—more frequent power cost adjustments on their electric bills—either as a charge or a credit.

REC is a not-for-profit organization and we only collect what is necessary to operate. We return any margins to the members each year through capital credit allocations and retirements and not to investors or shareholders.

Due to high cost of generation in January 2026, the PCA charge is likely be spread out over the next coming months.

Beat the Peak: Enroll to receive Peak Alerts by phone, email or text asking you to conserve when regional demand and costs are high on the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter. Reducing peak demand helps reduce the wholesale price Riverland Energy pays for electricity—and PCAs, which helps hold your rate steady and reduces the need for power generation, which cuts carbon.

When temperatures are extremely hot or cold, reduce your demand by not using non-essential energy-consuming items, like pool pumps, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and other appliances or motors not needed to sustain life.

Visit our rebate page for more energy-saving resources. Conservation helps not only your energy bill, but your co-ops as well.

Visit our Energy Efficiency Resources page or give us a call. Our member services representatives are here to assist with billing questions and high electric bills M-TH, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., F 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., 800-411-9115

Wisconsin Energy Assistance
Your household may be eligible for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, based on income and size. For more information on getting help paying your electric bill, visit our Energy Assistance page.

Riverland does not own power plants or generate its own electricity. We are a distribution cooperative that purchases wholesale power from Dairyland Power Cooperative, a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative in La Crosse, Wis.

As a G&T, Dairyland sells the power it generates, and purchases the power it needs for members through MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.

MISO is the regional authority that manages the electric grid for 15 states, including Wisconsin, and Manitoba Canada. It was created in 1998 and is one of seven regional transmission organizations (RTOs) in the U.S. See energy market display with demand and pricing on MISO's website.

What is a PCA?

What is the purpose of a PCA?

What is my PCA based on?

What factors impact the price of power (Wholesale power market)?

Are more PCA charges expected?

What can members do to help reduce wholesale power costs?

Where can members get help with high electric bills and billing questions?

What is MISO and the energy market?