Empire Electric plans 6.3 percent rate increase

Empire Electric Association, an energy cooperative that provides power to portions of San Juan County, including Monticello and the Eastland area, plans a 6.3 percent rate increase for residential and commercial customers. The new rates will go into effect on January 1, 2012.
Empire officials state that the changes in rates will allow the cooperative to recover a 4.8 percent increase in wholesale power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, plus a small 2.7 percent general rate increase.
Empire’s typical residential customer (using the average of 678 kilowatt hours of electricity a month) will see their monthly electricity bill increase from $90.82 to $95.92. This includes a $2 increase in the basic charge, from $17.50 to $19.50 per month.
The City of Blanding increased electric rates in July, 2011. A residential customer in Blanding that uses 678 kilowatt hours would pay $75.48 per month. This includes a basic charge of $5 per month.
Empire’s typical single-phase commercial customer will see an increase from $145.13 a month to $153.51 a month for 1,189 kilowatt hours of electricity. This includes a $2 increase in the basic charge, from $17.50 to $19.50 per month.
A commercial customer with similar power use in Blanding would pay $115.53 per month. This includes a basic charge of $8 per month.
For large users of electricity, rates become very complicated, making it difficult to compare.
Electricity used in January will begin to appear on Empire bills received in February and March.
A legal notice outlining the change, and providing more detailed information, can be found on page 9 of this newspaper.
Copies of the revised rate schedules are on file at Empire Electric Association, Inc. Office at 801 North Broadway, Cortez, CO, and are available for inspection during regular business hours.
Anyone who desires to complain about the proposed changes may file a written complaint at 801 North Broadway, P.O. Drawer K, Cortez, CO, 81321, at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
The cooperative may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearing, if any, shall make a written request at the above address, at least 10 days before the proposed effective date of the rate increase.