|
|
|
Council set to approve two electric rate increases for 2006
Increase will be first in eight months
By Lee Raynor
Editor
Posted: 11:20 PM EST Friday January 13, 2006
ElectriCities customers can expect not one but two rates increases this year if City Council members accept a request approved in December by the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. The regular Monday night meeting has been postponed due to Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
Higher electric rates will range from 8.78 percent for residential customers to 14.98 percent for municipal service customers beginning Feb. 1. The percentage of the May increase is not yet known.
The latest increase is being blamed on “steadily increasing” coal, gasoline and natural gas prices as well as variable loan interest rates and gross receipt taxes. The city’s cost is going up 10 percent.
The last rate increase to customers was 6.5 percent eight months ago.
While two increases in a year may seem excessive, ElectriCities customers had three increases in 2002. The first was 3 percent, followed by 1 percent during the summer and 6 percent at the end of that year.
In addition to residential and municipal service increases, the following rates are scheduled for other customers: |
|
Small general service (less than 30 kilowatts) | 6.71 %
|
Medium general use percent | 10.38 %
|
Public housing | 10.16 %
|
Churches and schools | 7.64 %
|
Large general service | 12.87 %
| CDC | 13.99 %
|
Area lighting | 5.37 %
| | | | | | |
In a memo to council members, Public Works Director Scott Stevens said 65 percent of N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency’s power supply comes from nuclear energy, which is less susceptible to increased fossil fuel prices.
The nearly 35 percent of the remaining power is generated by fossil fuel, which includes plants powered coal and by natural gas.
“In fact, gas powered plants provide much of the peak demand as these plants are easily powered up and down to meet electricity demands as they vary throughout the day and month,” the memo reads.
Customers are being advised to keep their thermostats at the lowest comfortable setting in order to save on utility costs. The recommended setting is 68 degrees.
The city also is suggesting that customers limit their use of portable space heaters, which are said to be inefficient; insulate windows and caulk around doors and windows; check their home’s insulation and consider adding some; and set water heaters at 120 degrees.
The city’s customer service line is offering more tips in lowering home residential bills. The number to call is 939-3282 during normal business hours from Mondays through Fridays. |
|
|
Print this page
