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

The original language would have prevented utilities from paying any bonuses to new non-union staff members using ratepayer funds. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026

So far, Consumers is trying to recover $41 million of those costs from its ratepayers, although that number could eventually increase. —Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026

If passed, the bill would allow residential ratepayers to be placed on budget billing plans on July 1, and utilities will be prohibited from disconnecting low-income customers’ services during periods with extreme heat warnings. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026

Such delays also mean additional costs for ratepayers, said Hillary Bright, executive director of the offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward. —Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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