Puget Sound Energy Rates Set to Increase Next Week

Electricity and natural gas rates for Puget Sound Energy customers will increase May 14 following action by state regulators earlier this week, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has announced.

Electricity rates for residential customers will go up by 3.2 percent while natural gas rates will rise by 1.3 percent, according to a news release from the commission.

The changes mean the average residential customer's monthly electricity bill will go up by $3.30 to a total average of $102.56. A typical natural gas customer, meanwhile, will pay $1.08 more each month for a total bill of $86.09.

The increases amount to a total hike of $76.7 million for PSE's 1.1 million electric customers and 756,765 natural gas customers in parts of Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston and Kittitas counties. The total is significantly lower than the $193 million the utility .

“The commission’s responsibility in general rate case proceedings is to determine an appropriate balance between the needs of the public to have safe and reliable electric and natural gas services at reasonable rates, and the financial ability of the utility to provide such services on an ongoing basis,” the three-member Utilities and Transportation Commission said in a written decision.

More information about the rate increases is available in the commission's news release.

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