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

Look at Annapolis’ obsession with offshore wind projects — big, ugly, industrial efforts that enrage residents, threaten marine life and provide unreliable power while depending entirely on massive ratepayer subsidies. —Justin Ready, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026

This expansion would cost ratepayers and harm the ecosystem. —Susan Moynihan, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026

During my four-year tenure, the county government led a competitive bid to address major challenges with the water and sewer system that was under Consent Decree from the Environmental Protection Agency, with the total ratepayer investment being $14 billion. —Mike Hernández, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026

For example, if utilities build more power plants or transmission lines to serve them, the cost can be spread across all ratepayers. —Marc Levy, Fortune, 13 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