ratepayer

noun

rate·​pay·​er ˈrāt-ˌpā-ər How to pronounce ratepayer (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some cities don’t pass along the entire increase to their ratepayers and find other ways, such as grants, to cover the costs. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 July 2025 As Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg expands his ravenous data centers, he’s agreed to take over subsidies that Illinois ratepayers have been providing to a nuclear power station in central Illinois since 2017. Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025 The industry does not want residential ratepayers subsidizing data center energy use. Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 This process is used to evaluate the utility’s mix of energy generation to meet ratepayer needs. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ratepayer

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ratepayer was in 1845

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Cite this Entry

“Ratepayer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratepayer. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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