BEL asked for a 14% average rate increase, the PUC recommended 8%, and now the independent consultant has weighed in with his opinion and its closer to BEL's request than it is to the PUC recommendation. The consultant, Dennis Colenutt, recommends an average rate of 39 cents per kilowatt-hour in the first year of the full tariff period.
As it is, BEL is requesting an average rate of 40 cents per kilowatt-hour while the PUC had approved point 37 cents in its initial decision. BEL's Corporate Communications Manager Dawn Sampson this evening said it is a positive move towards what the company had asked for.
The process is now that interested parties that represent 10 percent of BEL's consumption base have until July 7 to send in their input on the consultant's report.
