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.
But ratepayers, like everyone else, suffer sickness and death when forced to breathe dirty air. — John Kostyack, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 If the transmission line wins approval, the cost of the project will be spread among all ratepayers served by the California Independent System Operator, which manages about 80% of the state’s electrical grid. — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026 The federal case comes in the same week that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission rejected NIPSCO’s plan to defray about $741 million in natural gas infrastructure costs by passing along the costs to ratepayers. — Christin Lazerus, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 State regulators have been working with utility companies to prevent residential ratepayers and small businesses from shouldering the burden of paying for the power infrastructure upgrades necessary to accommodate data center demand. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for ratepayer

See All Rhymes for ratepayer

Browse Nearby Words

rate-of-rise thermostat
ratepayer
rater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ratepayer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratepayer. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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