ratepayer

noun

rate·​pay·​er ˈrāt-ˌpā-ər 

1

British : taxpayer

2

: one who pays for a utility service and especially electricity according to established rates

Examples of ratepayer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But utilities are promising investors and regulators that ratepayers won’t be stuck with AI’s tab, even as watchdogs point to cases shifting exactly those costs onto residential bills. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 July 2026

Before approving a site, ask whether residents can see a real benefit and whether ratepayers are protected. — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

What remained in the bill was a provision that data centers pick up the tab for their own electricity bill, not ratepayers. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Kelly Hamman, the organization’s director of development, said that since its beginning, the Citizens Action Coalition has saved residential ratepayers about $10 billion in excess utility costs. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ratepayer

• interlayer
• monolayer
• multilayer
• multiplayer
• overlayer
• assayer
• ballplayer
• betrayer
• bilayer
• bricklayer
• conveyer
• conveyor