Jul 01 - Concord Monitor


Starting tomorrow, PSNH electric rates for residential customers will jump 5.7 percent. The monthly bill for an average PSNH customer using 500 kilowatt hours of power will go up $4.39, from $77.41 to $81.80.

The increases are a result of higher costs of natural gas, oil and coal, the primary fuels used to produce energy in the region, according to a press release.

Utility regulators also approved rate increases for large business customers of Unitil and Granite State Electric who don't buy their energy on the open market.

About a third of Unitil's large business customers who buy electricity from the company will pay between 10 and 15 percent more for electricity over the next three months, Senior Vice President George Gantz said. The majority of customers, including residential and small businesses, will not experience any change.

"Rates do tend to be higher in the summer anyway," Gantz said. The state Public Utilities Commission also approved a similar rate increase for large business customers of Granite State Electric Company, whose bills will jump between 15 and 17 percent over the next few months.

The commercial rates will take effect Aug. 1.

KATE DAVIDSON

Originally published by KATE DAVIDSON Monitor staff.

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