In the small southern Utah town of Ticaboo, residents are accustomed to high electricity bills, with monthly costs ranging from $300 to $700. The town, home to roughly 300 residents during the summer months, relies on diesel generators to power its homes and businesses—an outdated method that drives up energy costs.
John Motley, who maintains the electrical grid in Ticaboo, describes the system as “basically… what? …1930s, 1940s technology.” The high electric bills are a direct result of the cost of diesel fuel and the maintenance of these aging generators.
Unlike most Utah towns, Ticaboo is not connected to a larger electricity grid, which makes it unique in its reliance on these diesel-powered systems. With no coal-fired power plants or wind turbines to provide alternative sources of energy, the town’s residents pay significantly more for electricity compared to the average homeowner in the state. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average monthly electric bill for a Utah homeowner was $87 in 2023, the lowest in the nation. For most Utahns, Rocky Mountain Power provides electricity, with the average customer paying $121 per month. Even with a proposed 18.1% rate increase by the utility, Ticaboo’s electric costs remain far higher.
Motley acknowledged the stark contrast, saying, “Compared to us, what people pay, we do chuckle.”
Connecting Ticaboo to a larger power grid would be a costly endeavor. The nearest potential connection point, located in Hanksville, is 60 miles away, with an estimated cost of $1 million per mile for the necessary power lines.
Looking toward the future, Motley and other residents of Ticaboo are exploring alternative energy options, particularly solar power. The town is actively seeking grants and other funding sources to make this shift a reality.
Despite the high costs, residents in Ticaboo are keenly aware of their energy usage. “People here are more conscious of the power that they do use,” Motley said. “I don’t think anybody goes without. We’ve called it the price for paradise.”
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