Electricity
rates rising again - going up 16%
BY JAMES RADA JR.
Thurmont News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – Thurmont’s electric rates are going up a little
faster and a little more than expected.
The Thurmont
Town Commissioners heard an update about their electric rates
from Drew Van Dopp with Downes Associates who told them that
the town’s electric rates would have to be adjusted
sooner than expected and at a greater rate than estimated
earlier this year.
“We
thought these increases were going to happen in January, but
they are going to happen in October,” Van Dopp said.
He pointed
out that the town has made attempts to minimize the impact
of the increases by phasing in the rate increases and signing
a long-term contract with its power supplier. The town also
sought to delay the increase but was turned down by the Maryland
Public Service Commission.
So the
first increase went into effect in April.
‘That
was I imagine a jolt for a lot of folks,” Van Dopp said,
but he added that despite the increase, prices had remained
competitive.
However,
unexpected charges from both the town’s old power supplier
and its new supplier pushed costs outside a 3-percent buffer.
These charges are what brought about the early adjustment.
Commissioner
Wayne Hooper said, “The timing’s no good. We’re
coming into a cold period and we’re having to do this
mid-stream.”
The increase,
which will be seen in the electric bills going out this month,
amounts to 15.6 percent. This means a bill that was $89.72
for 1,000-kilowatt hours will now be $103.75.
In January,
the annual adjustment is expected to increase the rate another
1.2 percent. This will increase the cost of 1,000-kilowatt
hours will be $104.92.
“These
monthly costs, though more than what they have been in the
past, are still competitive compared to investor-owned utilities
in the State of Maryland,” Van Dopp said.
The total
effect of the three increases will be 47 percent over what
it was at the beginning of this year.
Commissioner
Glenn Muth said, “It seems like we have no choice.”
The town
has been promoting a number of assistance programs that could
help people cope with the increases.
“Citizens
have told me they use these programs and they have helped
them,” said Commissioner Bill Blakeslee.
Information
on the programs is available at the town office, Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., (301) 271-7313.
