MANCHESTER, N.H., June 30, 2010 – The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission recently approved a series of rate adjustments for Public Service of New Hampshire that take effect on July 1. While the energy service charge will decrease, there will be an increase in the charges for delivering electricity to customers. The average monthly bill for a residential customer consuming 500 kilowatt-hours of power will increase $5.32 (6 percent) to $90.87.
PSNH is continually working to maintain and improve system reliability, including the replacement of aging equipment. The company’s current delivery charges are based on a study of the costs of doing business in 2005. However, since that time, there has been a significant increase in the cost of equipment and materials that are used to maintain and improve power reliability, even though electrical loads have declined. There have also been substantial increases in property taxes and health care costs.
In addition, a portion of the rate adjustment is associated with the recovery of costs of the December 2008 ice storm. The storm was the most devastating in New Hampshire history – an estimated 322,000 customers of PSNH lost power and the cost of the restoration effort totaled about $75 million.
PSNH Rate Change
Examples for a Residential Customer |
Energy Consumption kWh/month | June 30, 2010 | July 1, 2010 |
500 | $85.54 | $90.87 |
600 | 100.67 | 106.72 |
700 | 115.81 | 122.57 |