News Release
Rising Electricity Prices to Mean Slightly Higher Rates for Some WMECo Customers
Company Also Promoting Energy Efficiency Programs
Springfield, Mass. (November 16, 2012) -Western Massachusetts Electric Company today filed an application with the Department of Public Utilities requesting a small increase in electric supply prices beginning January 1, 2013. If approved, WMECo’s Basic Service charge will go from 6.733 cents per kilowatt hour to 7.437 cents, resulting in a 4.5 percent increase in the average residential customer’s total bill over the next six months.
The proposed change will affect WMECo customers who purchase their electricity supply through the company’s Basic Service Option. As a regulated distribution company, WMECo purchases electricity from suppliers and passes the cost directly to customers on the company’s Basic Service supply rate, with no profit to WMECo. By law, the Basic Service price for residential customers changes twice a year, on January 1st and July 1st.
WMECo customers using an average of 500 kilowatt-hours per month will see their total bill increase from $79.19 to $82.71. The proposed increase in the supply rate is due to an up-tick in the cost of natural gas, the fuel of choice for most of the region’s electricity generating companies. Until now, WMECo customers have experienced a prolonged decrease in electricity supply costs, with the proposed price still being considerably lower than in recent years.
WMECo urges customers to take advantage of its energy efficiency programs to help cut energy bills this heating season. While WMECo can’t control the cost it pays suppliers for electricity, it can help customers reduce the amount of energy they use by becoming more efficient. For information about all of the energy efficiency programs the company offers, visit