Columbia’s city council will hear your input Monday evening on a proposed electric rate increase that would impact every customer.
Columbia’s Electric Utility is proposing a two percent increase in the customer charge and usage rates. The city says the residential customer charge would go from $22 per month to $22.44 per month, under the proposal. The city says the proposed two percent increase is based on the Consumer Price Index percentage change for the 12-month period that ended in July.
The council’s six-page packet quotes Columbia officials as saying the proposed $2.8-million revenue increase is necessary to address a continued increase in operation/maintenance expenses, to maintain cash reserve levels and to ensure adequate debt coverage for the Water and Electric fund. City manager De’Carlon Seewood recommends approval.
The proposed increase would take effect on October 1.