by Robin Kemp
On Wednesday, September 29, the City of Hampton sent The Clayton Crescent updated slides from the September 28 first reading on proposed utility rate hikes. Here is a side-by-side comparison of proposed changes, including some higher numbers than previously reported.
The big picture
Hampton has not had a rate increase in six years, a situation that, according to City Manager Alex Cohilas, analysts from Electric Cities of Georgia say is unsustainable. ECG is a nonprofit that offers “technical and strategic services to 52 public power communities,” like cities, that manage utilities.
Without the proposed increases, the city says it will be more than half a million dollars in the hole. Water, sewer, and electric shortfalls are estimated at $511,000 ($359,000 for electric. $80,000 for water, and $72,000 for sewer):
Here are the latest price tiers according to the slides from the September 28 meeting. Note that some prices here differ from those in an earlier version on the rates we reported on before the meeting, with slightly higher rates for some utility customers:
Some examples of changes in the proposed rates since yesterday:
- ELECTRIC:
- Residential Year 1: was 0.108343, now 0.108487 (first 1000 kWh used per month)
- Residential Year 2: was 0.108584, now 0.108765 (first 1000 kWh used per month)
- Residential Year 3: was 0.108127, now 0.107754 (first 1000 kWh used per month)
- Small Commercial Year 1: was 0.114148, now 0.115698 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
- Small Commercial Year 2: was 0.115190, now 0.116766 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
- Small Commercial Year 3: was 0.115373, now 0.116422 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
- ELECTRIC:
- Residential Year 1: was 0.108343, now 0.108487 (over 1000 kWh per month)
- Residential Year 2: was 0.108584, now 0.103765 (over 1000 kWh per month)
- Residential Year 3: was 0.100627, now 0.107254 (over 1000 kWh per month)
- Small Commercial Year 1: was 0.112148, now 0.113698 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
- Small Commercial Year 2: was 0.111190, now 0.112766 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
- Small Commercial Year 3: was 0.111373, now 0.112422 (first 3000 kWh used per month)
