Lakeland Electric customers are likely to see their monthly bills increase this summer by $20 a month.
Lakeland Electric is seeking to raise its fuel rate from $40 to $60 per 1,000 kilowatt hours starting July 1. The measure was approved by the city’s Utility Committee Friday morning and will be voted on by the commission at Monday’s 9 a.m. meeting.
If approved, the average Lakeland homeowner could see their monthly electric bill increase by around $20 a month. Customers on LE’s demand price plan would pay a fuel rate up to about $74 an hour during peak times.
It would be the utility’s highest fuel rate since January 2009, according to LE’s Fuel Manager Tory Bombard.
“We have to raise our rates,” she said. “Fuel costs have gone up 300% in just three months.”
Increasing the rate to $60 per 1,000 kilowatt hours should allow Lakeland Electric to cover its projected costs plus an additional $1.2 million, according to her calculations. This would begin replenishing the city’s fuel reserve to the tune of $20 million, but it may not be enough Utility Committee member Jack English said.
Uhhh, what happened to all those big solar farms? Thought there was a rate increase on that. Folks, it’s the new ‘norm’, high gas prices, high grocery prices, high everything, Thanks Biden.