Fuel Costs Drive Bartow Electric Charges Higher
By Suzie Schottelkotte
THE LEDGER
BARTOW | The city’s electric charges is going up again in June, pushing the fuel cost adjustment up a total of 24 percent since December, climbing from $62 to nearly $77 for an average 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
"I’m hoping it will start to level off some," he said, "but I don’t think it’s going to come down much more. I think we’re probably right about where we’re going to be for awhile."
Wright said Bartow’s increase can be linked to escalating power costs. The city buys wholesale power from Progress Energy, which includes the energy costs the private utility passes on to Bartow.
That cost is passed along to the city’s electric customers, he said.
"When the rates increase for us, they’re going to increase for our customers," he said. "That’s what we’re seeing."
Bartow uses the profits from its electric sales to help pay for city operations, such as police, fire, parks and recreation, and public works.
The fuel adjustment cost is adjusted automatically every month, and does not need City Commission approval to change.
[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. ]