The Public Utility Commission of Texas has granted Southwestern Electric Power Co. an annual base rate increase of $50 million.
The American Electric Power Co. Inc. subsidiary in December 2016 originally requested an increase of $69 million annually to recover costs for additional environmental controls at its Welsh, Pirkey, Dolet Hills and Flint Creek power plants to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Starting Feb. 5, residential customers using 1,000 kWh will see an approximately 8.9%, or $8.59, increase in their monthly bill. The new rates are retroactive to May 20, 2017. The commission will determine the starting date for the collection of a surcharge to collect the retroactive amounts, which is expected to be approximately 7.9%, or $7.70 per month, for residential customers for about 10 months.
The commission adopted the rate order at its Jan. 11 meeting.
