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Greer Commission of Public Works announced its rate increase to purchase power from Piedmont Municipal Power Agency.
A 4.74 percent electricity rate increase was approved Monday at the Greer Commission of Public Works monthly board meeting. That brings CPW's described average water/sewer/electric customer paying at least $8.29 more per month.
Commissioners agreed with General Manager Jeffrey Tuttle for a 4.3 percent cost increase to purchase power from the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA) with the remaining .44 percent increase for rising operations and maintenance costs.
CPW stated the increase means a residential customer can expect a $5.50 monthly increase, per 1,000-kilowatt hours used. PMPA’s rate increase takes effect May 1.
CPW-approved 2015 water and sewer rate increases went into effect Jan. 1, which CPW explained, averaged $2.79 per water/sewer customer based on an average of 6,000 gallons of water used.
Commissioners approved an $82.2 million budget for 2015, anticipating an electric rate hike that would mirror’s PMPA’s. No gas rate increases were forecast by CPW this year, with prices dropping for the past two years.
CPW announced its electric rate hike after the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency made its public in February for the 10 utilities it serves. In the past, CPW estimated its next year’s rate and was left to add a second increase or absorb the additional cost.
• $5.50 electricity: monthly based on 1,000 kw hours used
• $2.79 water/sewer: monthly based on 6,000 gallons of water used
• Gas: No increase
$8.29 monthly: based on CPW statistics