The Marietta Daily Journal – City trying to avoid another electric rate hike

MARIETTA — The director of Marietta’s power and water utility says there are several options on the table that could ward off a power rate hike and prevent customers from bearing the brunt of a $5 million wholesale increase.

The Marietta Board of Lights and Water is facing a $5 million deficit following increases by its wholesalers, particularly its electric provider, the Municipal Electric Association of Georgia.

Some cost increases are a definite to pass on to customers, like the 4 percent hike in water rates approved by the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority in September. The Water Authority’s board members include local political leaders such as Marietta Councilman Grif Chalfant, Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon and County Chairman Tim Lee.

But an electric power hike is more avoidable, said Bob Lewis, BLW general manager. Power, water and sanitation utilities fees are placed on one monthly bill to BLW customers.

Customers ‘frustrated’ by repeated rate hikes

“We’ve seen increases over the last five years. I know people are frustrated in terms of seeing those increases but when our costs go up $5 million, we can’t just suddenly cut our staff or suddenly decide not to do our capital projects that are on hold or that we have in engineering and are ongoing, so what do you do?” Lewis said.

via The Marietta Daily Journal – City trying to avoid another electric rate hike.