Cable, electric bills set to rise

By Rolf Boone | The Olympian • Published August 30, 2008

Many South Sound consumers will have to further tighten their purse strings after the state's largest utility and cable TV provider announced plans Friday to raise rates this fall.

PSE

•What: Puget Sound Energy plans to raise its monthly natural-gas rate by more than 10 percent, or $8.49 on the average customer's bill. Under the plan, the average monthly residential bill would rise to $90.64.

•When: The increase, subject to state Utilities and Transportation Commission approval, would take effect Oct. 1.

•Why: PSE executive vice president and chief operating officer Bert Valdman said the increase is needed for the company to recover its natural-gas expenses.

•Additional increases: The utility also seeks to boost a customer charge to help cover low-income households with utility bills. If approved, the fee will increase the average bill by 22 cents for electric customers and 2 cents for natural-gas customers. Also, a general rate-increase request is pending before the state Utilities and Transportation Commission, although it is not unusual for there to be multiple rate cases pending UTC approval, spokeswoman Sharon Wallace said.

•What's next: A public hearing is scheduled in Olympia at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 25 at 1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive S.W. to review Friday's rate-increase request.

Comcast

•What: Cable TV provider Comcast will increase its average monthly cable bill by nearly 4 percent, effective Oct. 1. It is not regulated at the state level and does not need approval to raise rates.

•Cost: For basic cable TV service, which includes the limited and expanded channel lineup, the monthly bill will rise to $55.75 from $52.25, spokes- man Walter Neary said. Monthly costs for high-speed Internet and digital phone service will not change, he said.