PSE may get smaller rate hike than sought

Utility: Final ruling in early spring

The Olympian | • Published November 18, 2009

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OLYMPIA - The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission staff filed a recommendation Tuesday to reject most of a rate increase proposed by Puget Sound Energy, according to a release from the commission.

The three-member commission will make a final decision on PSE’s rate-increase request in early spring. New rates are expected to take effect about April 1.

In May, PSE asked the commission to approve the rate increase, boosting the utility’s annual revenue by more than $148 million for electric service and nearly $27.2 million for natural-gas service. Commission staff members said the company should be allowed to increase its electric revenue by 0.3 percent, or $5.8 million a year, and its natural-gas rates 0.6 percent, or $7.1 million a year.

The commission staff also suggests that the basic service charge for electric customers should increase 2 cents to $7.02 a month.

In addition, staff members propose a $10.19 monthly customer service charge for natural-gas customers, up from the current $10.

Under the commission staff's recommendation, the average residential electric customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month would see an increase of 30 cents a month. The average natural-gas customer using 70 therms a month would pay about 64 cents more, for a revised $82.63 total monthly bill.

FEEDBACK SOUGHT

PSE customers can make comments to state regulators about the proposed rate increase at noon Jan. 19 in the second-floor hearing room at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, 1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia.

Customers who can’t attend can mail their feedback to P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504, or e-mail it to comments@utc.wa.gov or call 888-333-9882.