JEA board OKs 15% increase for electricity; talks about water rate hike

[thelakelander]

JEA board OKs 15% increase for electricity; talks about water rate hike
Posted: Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
By DAVID HUNT
The Times-Union

JEA customers will be paying roughly 15 percent more for their electricity starting in July.

The city-owned utility’s board of directors unanimously approved the rate increase today as a response to skyrocketing fuel costs the utility is facing.

That will increase the cost to customers to $110.93 from $95.93 for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours. JEA uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours as a benchmark, although the average home in Jacksonville uses 1,250 kilowatt-hours monthly.

JEA officials have projected a $61 million deficit in fuel costs this year. The board spent a portion of a 75-minute discussion on the matter talking about ways to entice customers to conserve electricity.

The board will also be scheduling a public hearing soon on a possible 4.1 percent water rate increase.

Board members said there is a need to generate revenue to cover costs associated with several environmental regulations.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/05/20/jea-board-oks-15-increase-for-electricity-talks-about-water-rate-hike/