FRANKFORT, Ky. — If the Kentucky Public Service Commission agrees to allow East Kentucky Power Cooperative and its member co-ops to raise rates, they won’t go into effect until next year. That’s because of an order issued Thursday by the PSC, finding that an investigation of the rate case is necessary.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative, which supplies electricity to the co-ops, is asking for a 7.5 percent increase to its wholesale rate. East Kentucky Power says it needs the rate hike to account for inflation and higher interest rates.
The co-ops have also asked the PSC to allow them to pass along that cost to customers. If granted, Big Sandy RECC says the increase would amount to $6.73 more on the average residential bill.
On Thursday, the PSC delayed the effective date of the rate increase until Jan, 31, to give the commission time to fully investigate the request. A full public hearing on the request will be set at a later time.
If the PSC allows an increase, it will be the second rate hike for Big Sandy RECC customers in less than a year. In June, the PSC allowed the utility to raise rates 12.8 percent.
