Berea Municipal Utilities operates its three utilities just like a business. That means the Electric, Water and Wastewater utilities must generate enough revenue through user fees to cover all the costs of operations. In addition to staff time, equipment maintenance, and materials and supplies needed to provide the direct services of each utility, other costs, such as debt service payments and funding for capital improvements, must also be recovered through the rates. Utility funds are not supported by property taxes; revenue is generated from user fees.
Utility rates are set at the local level by the Berea City Council. As a public utility, BMU does not have shareholders or pay dividends to private entities. BMU does, however, provide a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the City of Berea to help to offset the need for additional taxes.
The below is effective July 8 2026
| Residential Rate – Single Phase Service | |
| Service Charge | $22.50 |
| Energy Charge (per kWh) | $.0890 |
| Small General Service – No Demand – Single Phase | |
| Service Charge | $27 |
| Energy Charge (per kWh) | $.0906 |
| Small General Service – No Demand – Three Phase | |
| Service Charge | $33 |
| Energy Charge (per kWh) | $0.0906 |
| Small General Service – Demand – Single Phase | |
| Historic Annual Peak 25kWh – 100kW | |
| Service Charge | $39 |
| Energy Charge: | |
| First 9,125 kWh | $0.0876 |
| All Additional kWh | $0.0712 |
| Demand Charge: | |
| First 25 kW | $3.50 |
| All Additional kW | $9.50 |
| Small General Service – Demand – Three Phase | |
| Historic Annual Peak 25 kW – 100 kW | |
| Service Charge | $45 |
| Energy Charge: | |
| First 9,125 kWh | $0.0876 |
| All Additional kWh | $0.0712 |
| Demand Charge: | |
| First 25 kW | $3.50 |
| All Additional kWh | $9.50 |
| Medium General Service – Single Phase | |
| Historic Annual Peak 100 kW – 500 kW | |
| Service Charge | $150.00 |
| Energy Charge: | |
| First 9,125 kWh | $0.0876 |
| All Additional kWh | $0.0712 |
| Demand Charge: | |
| First 25 kW | $3.50 |
| All Additional kW | $9.50 |
| Medium General Service – Three Phase | |
| Historic Annual Peak 100 kW – 500 kW | |
| Service Charge | $156 |
| Energy Charge: | |
| First 9,125 kWh | $0.0876 |
| All Additional kWh | $0.0712 |
| Demand Charge: | |
| First 25 kW | $3.50 |
| All Additional kW | $9.50 |
| Large General Service | |
| Historic Annual Peak Greater than 500 kW | |
| Service Charge | $200.50 |
| Energy Charge: | |
| First 9,125 kWh | $0.0876 |
| All Additional kWh | $0.0712 |
| Demand Charge: | |
| First 25 kW | $3.50 |
| All Additional kW | $9.50 |
| Private Outdoor Lighting Service | |
| Mercury Vapor – 175-watt Std Ovrhd | $9.02 |
| Mercury Vapor – 175-watt Exist Pole | $7.73 |
| Mercury Vapor – 400-watt Exist Pole | $12.14 |
| High Pressure Sodium – 250-watt Std Ovrhd (Cobra Head) | $12.78 |
| High Pressure Sodium – 250-watt Exist Pole (Cobra Head) | $11.95 |
| High Pressure Sodium – 250-watt Std Ovrhd (Directional) | $22.60 |
| High Pressure Sodium – 250-watt Exist Pole (Directional) | $12.17 |
| LED – 64-watt LED Exist Pole | $8.72 |
| LED – 64-watt LED New Pole | $19.12 |
| LED – 72-watt LED Exist Pole | $9.13 |
| LED – 72-watt LED New Pole | $19.53 |
| LED – 108-watt LED Exist Pole | $12.33 |
| LED – 108-watt LED New Pole | $22.73 |
Power Cost Adjustment
A Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) may be added to energy charges for all service classes. The PCA is a rate mechanism electric utilities use to recover fluctuating purchased power costs. BMU currently purchases electricity from Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA) at wholesale rates which are adjusted annually and fluctuate monthly with changes in fuel cost. The PCA enables BMU to recover these fluctuating wholesale power costs as they occur without overcharging or undercharging customers through fixed retail rates.
| Residential | |
| First 1496 Gallons | $12.00 |
| Over 1496 Gallons | $0.006885 |
| Commercial | |
| First 1496 Gallons | $13.00 |
| Next 13,464 Gallons | $0.006123 |
| Next 22,440 Gallons | $0.005655 |
| Next 37,400 Gallons | $0.005120 |
| Next 37,400 Gallons | $0.004385 |
| Over 112,200 Gallons | $0.004144 |
| Fire Protection | |
| 6″ sprinkler line | $47.25 |
| 8″ sprinkler line | $65.75 |
| 10″ sprinkler line | $85.25 |
| 12” sprinkler line | $103.75 |
| BMU Residential Water Customers | |
| First 1496 Gallons | $10.50 |
| Over 1496 Gallons | $0.006296 |
| Southern Madison Water Customers | |
| First 1496 Gallons | $10.50 |
| Over 1496 Gallons | $0.006296 |
As a new customer, your required security deposit will depend on what services BMU will be providing. The deposit fees for residential customers are as follows:
Electric – $150
Water – $50
Sewer – $40 for BMU water customers
Sewer – $60 for Southern Madison Water District water customers
Deposit amounts for commercial or industrial customers are calculated based on two (2) times the estimated average monthly bill. Please contact a customer service representative at 859-986-4391 to discuss deposit totals for your commercial or industrial account.
| Electric Connection Fee | |
| Fee for Each Meter | $50 |
| Residential Electric Deposit | $150 |
| Water Connection Fees | |
| 5/8" (3/4") Meter | $425 |
| 1" Meter | $750 |
| 2" Meter | $2000 |
| 3" Meter | $2750 |
| Residential Water Deposit | $50 |
| Sewer Connection Fees | |
| 5/8" (3/4") Meter | $400 |
| 1" Meter | $1000 |
| 2" Meter | $3200 |
| 3" Meter | $6400 |
| 4" Meter | $10,000 |
| Residential Sewer Deposit (BMU) | $40 |
| Inside City Limits Not Connected to BMU Water System (On SMWD) |
|
| 5/8" (3/4") Meter | $600 |
| 1" Meter | $1500 |
| 1 1/2" Meter | $3000 |
| 2" Meter | $4800 |
| 3" Meter | $9600 |
| 4" Meter | $15,000 |
| Residential Sewer Deposit (SMWD) | $60 |
| Outside City Limits (On SMWD) | |
| 5/8" (3/4") Meter | $800 |
| 1" Meter | $2000 |
| 1 1/2" Meter | $4000 |
| 2" Meter | $6400 |
| 3" Meter | $12,800 |
| 4" Meter | $20,000 |
| Residential Sewer Deposit (SMWD) | $60 |