Electricity bills increase due to new contract
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PABLO — Electric bills in the valley will be going up on Oct. 1. The reason, according to Ralph Goode, General Manager of Mission Valley Power, is that the utility has had a 10-year contract with Bonneville Power Administration that will expire on Sept. 30.
A new BPA contract will require MVP to accept a cost of power increase, a one-time adjustment of approximately 20 percent in power costs. MVP rates will remain one of the lowest rates in the Northwest, Goode noted.
In their MVP bills this month, MVP customers will get a brown sheet listing the estimated cost of power increase.
The average residential customer, using 1,300 kWhrs per month will see an increase of $13 per month. Garages, shops, barns, guest quarter, etc., using approximately 1,200 kWhrs per month will increase about $13.92 per month.
General Services with demand, single phase, will increase about $43.45 per month.
General Services three phase will increase an average of $180.12 per month. General services with demand are businesses, gas stations, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, department stores and banks.
Irrigation customers who use an average of 30,000 kWhs per season will see an average of $225 in additional costs per season.
MVP will be sharing in the cost adjustment by reducing their planned capital expenditures for the next two years, Goode added. They will be replacing only necessary positions due to retirement or vacancy, transfer, resignation, etc.
Customers can prepare for the new rates by using energy efficient light bulbs, like CFL’s.
When replacing old heating systems or appliances, people should make sure their new ones are the most efficient available.
MVP clients may also change their electric payment to budget billing. In budget billing, MVP takes a year’s bill and divides by 12 so every month the customer pays a fixed amount. Higher summer bills are balanced out by lower winter bills.
For questions or information, go to the MVP website at www.missionvalleypower.org or call 883-7900.
