Council votes to suspend SWEPCO hike

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com

The Atlanta City Council passed  a resolution on Jan. 3 to suspend the effective date for 90 days in connection with the filing of SWEPCO rate increase.
SWEPCO announced in December that it is seeking a 12.7 rate increase to cover $34.4 million annually for additional investment in environmental controls at four major power plants. The investments are necessary to comply with new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
City Manager David Cockrell said the measure passed by the council mirrors what other municipalities are doing.
“We are taking this action, which puts the approval on the Public Utilities Commission,” Cockrell said. “We are going to have it heard by the Public Utilities Commission, and if history repeats itself, they may see a need for the rate increase eventually, but it’s not likely to be what has been requested.”  
SWEPCO officials said residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see an estimated increase of $12.67 per month.  Increases for individual customers will vary depending on each customer’s usage characteristics.
If approved, new rates could go into effect in mid-to-late 2017.
In other business, the council:
*Held the final reading of an ordinance to adjust the price for emergency medical response, equipment and medication to bring the cost in line with what LifeNet charges.
* Passed a resolution approving the submission of a HOME application to the Texas Department of House and Community Affairs.