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ratepayer

American  
[reyt-pey-er] / ˈreɪtˌpeɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person who pays a regular charge for the use of a public utility, as gas or electricity, usually based on the quantity consumed.

  2. British. a person who pays rates; a taxpayer of the local government.


ratepayer British  
/ ˈreɪtˌpeɪə /

noun

  1. a person who pays local rates, esp a householder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of ratepayer

First recorded in 1835–45; rate 1 + payer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His organization has estimated that the average ratepayer will pay somewhere between about $150 and $225 a year for the transmission projects that have been recently approved.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

The White House did not respond to MarketWatch’s request for additional details about the ratepayer protection pledge.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Another bill, which ratepayer advocates supported, would have required the Public Utilities Commission to develop a framework for analyzing total annual energy costs for residential households.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2024

If the council cannot accelerate its reviews and clarify council deliberation procedures, we will move backward in meeting Clean Energy Transition Act requirements, discourage investment and good jobs, and increase ratepayer costs.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 18, 2024

That comes from no Hebrew prophet, but from a ratepayer in Chelsea.

From The Stark Munro Letters by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

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