BEGWS receives approval for smaller rate hike
By ROB PRICE THE COUIER ADVOCATE

BATH - Bath Electric, Gas and Water Systems, the public utility serving the Village of Bath, announced recently the New York Public Service commission has approved an overall rate increase for electricity customers of of 1.7 percent, effective May 1.

BEGWS electric users will see the increase reflected in their June bills, according to Matthew Benesh, director of utilities.

The increase is considerably below the 4.2 percent increase BEGWS requested approval for and omits entirely a sharp increase in the $2.90 basic service charge for residential customers.

Benesh noted the actual impact of the rate increase will vary depending on the amount of electricity used by BEGWS customers.

Electricity customers who use more than 2,400 kilowatt hours per month would see their rates rise from four cents per kwh to five cents during the peak winter months of November through April. BEGWS had requested a steeper rate increase for that class of residential customer.

According to Benesh. BEGWS had sought to address the issue of rising electricity consumption through its request for higher rates for residential customers who consume relatively higher amounts of electricity.

The utility, he told The Courier in a recent interview, is alloted 13 megawatts of electricity usage from the New York State Power Authority, but regularly exceeds that allowance and must purchase additional electric power at higher rates through the New York Municipal Power agency.

Charging higher-use customers more for their electricity would be a way of relieving costs for lower-use customers, Benesh said.

A detailed breakdown of the revised electricity costs is available at the offices of BEGWS, Benesh added.

BEGWS officials have noted the rate increase is not related to plans for the upgrade of the public utility's electrical infrastructure. Those plans continue to be reviewed by the utility and its engineering firm, PLM Electric Power Engineering, of Massachusetts.