On November 1, 2017, an electric rate adjustment will take effect for all Canby Utility electric customers. The Canby Utility Board approved the proposed increase in electric rates for all customers following the public hearing for citizen input held at the regular board meeting on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. After close of the public hearing, the board voted to approve the proposed rate increase.
Once effective, customers will see an increase of approximately 2%. Residential customers who have an electric bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours of usage, the previous bill of $78.67 will increase to $80.27, an increase of $1.60. The board adjusted only the energy charge component and left the fixed residential meter charge unchanged to benefit bill-paying families. If families can cut back on electric usage a bit, conservation will offset the impact of the rate adjustment. Commercial and industrial customers that received a bill for 5,000 kilowatt-hours will see their bill go from $257.81 to $261.61, an increase of $3.80.
The Bonneville Power Administration’s recent 2.5% increase in wholesale power and transmission costs, effective October 1, 2017, was the largest driver of the need for Canby Utility to adjust its rates. The balance of the rate increase after covering the increased wholesale power costs will cover increases in local operating expenses, expenses of which were not covered in the last electric rate increase in 2015.