Pikeville increases electricity rate
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on September 8, 2004 2:01 PM
PIKEVILLE -- In-town and out-of-town residents will be facing an increase in their electrical rates in October.
The town board voted unanimously Tuesday to increase rates 2.5 percent for all customers, raising the bills by about $3.80 per month beginning in October.
The board has been absorbing the last increase of 1.2 percent since April, officials said.
The 2.5 percent being passed on includes a 1.3 percent increase that was recently imposed by the town's power supplier, ElectriCities. It also includes the previous 1.2 percent the town has been absorbing.
The board is expecting another 1 percent increase in March, but it has not decided whether that increase will be absorbed or passed on.
Commissioner Lyman Galloway said the electric bills are really the only way the town is making any money, which it needs to provide other services for town residents.
There were several residents in attendance, but no comment was made. Glenn Smith, resident, did ask how much his bill would increase. The board provided him with a chart.
The board is considering refunding customers' utility deposits. Currently, the town keeps the deposit forever.
It decided to re-write an ordinance to state that if a customer has paid his bill on time for the past 24 months or a new customer does so for the next two years, they will get their deposit back. The deposit is $200. It will hold a public hearing at next month's board meeting on the new ordinance.