P.E.I. power rate increase approved by IRAC

Expect your home electricity bill to go up. Power rates for residential customers are increasing in P.E.I.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission approvedrate increases requested by Maritime Electric on Monday.

The increase will be about 7%per cent over 3 years about $2.60 a month per customer until March 2019.

• Maritime Electric, P.E.I. government apply for rate increase of 7% over 3 years
• $54M P.E.I. underwater power cable contract goes to Korean company

News of the increase was posted on the IRAC website Monday.

Maritime Electric said the increase is needed due to the costs of the new underwater cable, inflation of production costs, and aging equipment, including the planned closure of the Charlottetown thermal plant.

The utility made the general rate agreement with the P.E.I. government last month and was awaiting approval from IRAC.