PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved new utility rates that will cost most residents on average $8 more per month next year while providing some relief for poor residents.
The new rates include increases to the electrical base and consumption rates and the combined sewer overflow wastewater fee.
Rate increase exemptions
There will be no electrical rate increase for the approximately 400 residents who use the city’s discount program for low-income seniors and low-income disabled adults.
The council approved the new rates 6-1, with Councilman Brad Collins opposed, after previously delaying taking action Oct. 18.
Collins said he couldn’t support the electrical rate increase, which amounts to about $5.50 per month on average, after hearing the testimony of one women who said she had trouble affording heat for her family last winter.
“It was the most painful decision to know that our power was going to be shut off,” Susan Hinton told the council during public comment.
Discount program
Following the vote, Collins and Deputy Mayor Don Perry voiced support for extending the utility discount program to more low-income residents.
Staff said that will be considered next year.
Electrical base rates will go up from $13 per month to $15.75. The consumption rate will increase by about 4 percent, from 5.82 cents per kilowatt to 6.05 cents.
Previously, the council had directed staff to place the entire electrical increase, meant to cover a 14 percent Bonneville Power Administration wholesale increase for the city, through the base rate.
The new rates did not include any changes to charges to Nippon Paper Industries USA, which has not paid an electrical base rate since 2004.
A majority of council members last month voiced support for not charging Nippon a base rate next year either, though a final decision has not been made.
That issue will be discussed further at a budget work session at 5:30 p.m. today in council chambers at City Hall, said Glenn Cutler, city public works and utilities director.
CSO charges
The combined sewer overflow rate, which pays for the city’s $40 million sewage overflow elimination project, will go from $17.60 to $20.10 for those who use more than 430 cubic feet of water per month and from $15.75 to $18 for those who use less than that amount.
The CSO rate will continue increasing annually until 2015, when it is expected to reach about $26.40 per month.
The rate will expire after another 20 years.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
