Higher bills on the way…again. Rocky Mountain Power is requesting a rate hike for the sixth year in a row, citing the need to cover rising electricity costs, growth, pollution control, and transmission and power plant maintenance. The Wyoming Public Service Commission is holding a public hearing this week (Friday, in Casper) to hear the customers’ side of the story. A-A-R-P Wyoming is one of the groups intervening in the case. State director Tim Summers says the original 62-million dollar increase is now down to about 50-million.
The Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate has recommended R-M-P is entitled to a rate hike of about 15-and-a-half million dollars. Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers is another one of the groups intervening in the case.
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Summers says these increases year-after-year hit lower-income residents of all ages the hardest, and create situations where Wyomingites have to choose between paying their utility bills or buying basics, such as food and medications. A-A-R-P and other groups have suggested the company do some long-term planning to avoid an annual rate hike process.
Rocky Mountain Power would like the increased rates to go into effect in October.
The Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate has recommended R-M-P is entitled to a rate hike of about 15-and-a-half million dollars. Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers is another one of the groups intervening in the case.
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Summers says these increases year-after-year hit lower-income residents of all ages the hardest, and create situations where Wyomingites have to choose between paying their utility bills or buying basics, such as food and medications. A-A-R-P and other groups have suggested the company do some long-term planning to avoid an annual rate hike process.
Rocky Mountain Power would like the increased rates to go into effect in October.
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