Unitil files for a change in electric distribution rates for New Hampshire customers
WMUR-TV
[{'start': '0.900', 'end': '2.802', 'text': "WEEKEND.  THE TIMELINE AND ALL OF THAT.  COMING UP, YOUR ENERGY BILL  COULD BE GOING UP.  THAT'S IF YOU HAVE UNITIL AND IF  THE COMPANY ENERGY, IF THE  ENERGY COMPANY GETS A RATE  CHANGE.  APPROVED WMUR MARISSA TANSINO  HERE.  NOW WITH WHY THE COMPANY IS  MAKING THIS REQUEST.  AND ALSO MARISSA, WHAT IT COULD  MEAN FOR MOST FOLKS.  YEAH.  WELL, STEVE UNITEL SAYS IF  APPROVED, THE RATE CHANGE WOULD  HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THE  INCREASING COSTS THE COMPANY IS  SEEING.  THIS STILL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY  THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.  UNITIL FILED A BASE RATE CASE  WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC  UTILITIES COMMISSION TO REQUEST  THAT CHANGE IN WHAT'S CALLED A  DISTRIBUTION RATE FOR ALL  CUSTOMERS.  THAT IS THE COST OF DELIVERING  ENERGY TO YOUR HOME.  IF THE RATE CHANGES, UNITIL IS  REQUESTING ARE APPROVED  RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS  USING AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 600  KILOWATT HOURS A MONTH WOULD SEE  AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $11 ON  THEIR MONTHLY BILL, UNITIL SAYS.  THIS WILL HELP SUPPORT OPERATING  COSTS, BUT THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE  SAYS HE THINKS THE REQUEST IS  EXCESSIVE.  THE REASON WE'RE FILING FOR AN  INCREASE IS FAIRLY  STRAIGHTFORWARD COST INCREASE  OVER TIME, AND THERE HAVE BEEN  COST INCREASES OVER THE LAST  FOUR YEARS.  SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS  ALIGN THE RATES THAT CUSTOMERS  ARE PAYING WITH THE OPERATIONAL  RATES, COSTS OF DELIVERING  ENERGY TO THEIR HOMES AND  BUSINESSES WILL HAVE TO BE PARED  DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.  IT OUTPACES INFLATION BY A  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, WHICH IS  CONCERNING AT A TIME WHEN  EVERYBODY IS HAVING TROUBLE  PAYING THEIR BILLS.  SO UNITIL SAYS THIS PROCESS CAN  TAKE ABOUT A YEAR AND THEY DON'T"}]