ROBERT W. BLACK Star-Tribune capital bureau | Posted: Friday, October 14, 2005 12:00 am
CHEYENNE - PacifiCorp is seeking a $40.2 million rate increase to cover the rising cost of providing electricity to its Wyoming customers, officials said.
The utility's 130,000 customers in the state would face an average 11 percent increase, or about $8 more a month, under an application filed Friday with state regulators. The Portland, Ore.-based company operates in Wyoming as Pacific Power.
"We never approach a rate increase request lightly," said Bob Tarantola, Pacific Power regional vice president. "We realize the cost pressures everybody is under … but the plain facts are the cost of providing electric service is going up."
Pacific Power officials expect the application review by the Wyoming Public Service Commission to extend into 2006, and that hearings will be scheduled.
"Even if this rate increase is accepted as filed, Wyoming customers will still have among the lowest rates in the nation, and our rates will remain competitive in the state and region," spokesman Jeff Hymas said.
The cost of fuel, employee health and pension benefits, and operating and maintenance costs continue to go up, officials said. The company has tried hard to keep costs down by improving efficiency wherever possible, including adjustments to nonunion labor, but inflation is taking a toll, Tarantola said.
For more details read Saturday's Casper Star-Tribune.