NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Customers of Empire District Electric Company in Gravette, Decatur, Gentry and Sulphur Springs, and the firm’s service area are facing a possible rate increase as a result of a request filed with the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

The request was filed August 18 with the state agency and, if approved, the basic customer rates for residential and commercial service will increase.

The commission has up to 10 months to render its decision on the request and has announced a public hearing will be held at the Commission office in Little Rock March 8.

The following week, on March 10, a public commenthearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Gentry High School Auditorium for comments from area citizens.

Briefly, if the rate request change is granted, the current residential customer service rate of $8.40 per month will increase to $17. The current commercial rate will increase from $10.16 to $27 per billing period.

The (kilowatt) kW rate, which varies from summer to winter, will show increases of varying amounts as listed in a public notice published in the Eagle Observer issues of Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.

In making the request, Empire said, “This increase is the first since 2004. It will cover the costs associated with the addition of a new generating plant, environmental improvements,improvements to the transmission and distribution systems, and steadily increasing operation and maintenance costs,” the notice stated.

The increase as proposed will affect all classes of customers as follows:

Residential, 34.2 percent increase; Commercial, 34.8 percent; General Power, 31.2 percent; Power Transmission, 26.2 percent; Lighting, 37.4 percent; and Total Jurisdictional Increase, 30.6 percent.

Empire District Electric Company, headquartered in Joplin, Mo., will, upon request, provide an estimate of the average monthly amount which the company’s proposed rates will increase a customer’s utility bill. That amount may be altered by the final order of the Commission.

News, Pages 1 on 11/17/2010