Alpena Power requests rate increase
ALPENA, Mich. — Alpena Power wants to increase their rates. The utility company has filed a general rate case application with the
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) requesting an average annual increase of 6.58%. Before residential customers will see an increase in their bills, the MPSC must approve the request. If approved, the typical residential customer who uses approximately 543 kwh’s of electric energy per month, will see their monthly bill increase by about $ 7.53.
Alpena Power’s last general rate increase went into effect on January 1, 2018. Since that time, the company says it has suffered declining sales and increased operation and maintenance expenses while continuing to invest in its aging transmission and distribution systems. Alpena Power has requested the increase to continue to provide the highest service reliability possible for its customers while continuing to keep its rates among the lowest in the state.
“Alpena Power continues to proactively plan for our customers’ future energy needs”, Ken Dragiewicz, Alpena Power’s President and Chief Operating Officer, said. “The rate increase will allow us to maintain our existing high standard of service reliability by continuing to make the necessary capital investments in our system. While we do not like increasing our rates, we believe that the requested increase is both necessary and reasonable.”
Alpena Power is a locally owned electric utility that serves approximately 16,550 customers located in Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.
