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

OpenAI has repeatedly pledged to protect ratepayers and invest in local communities this year, and Lehane said the company's latest commitments build on many of its previous initiatives. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Leuwam Tesfai, executive director of the California Public Utilities Commission, said not doing so leads to a cycle of issues that ultimately will put ratepayers on the hook for more money. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026

But some ratepayers have called to reexamine the utility’s rate structure — saying that air conditioning is a lifeline, not a luxury, as temperatures continue to rise. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Nearly nine months later, some ratepayers tell CBS News New York their utility costs are still high. — Christine Sloan, CBS News, 19 Oct. 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