COLUMBIA, MO. -- Columbia council members approved a lower electricity rate increase than originally planned.
City Manager Bill Watkins was asking for a 3 percent increase for Columbia electricity customers for next year’s budget.
Council members approved a 3 percent increase instead.
City leaders went with the lower rate hike because revenues were higher than expected this year for the Columbia Water and Light Department.
“The summer went better than what we thought it was going to," Columbia Water & Light Spokesperson Connie Kacprowicz said. "We had a lower amount of electricity use which is always helpful since power supply costs are a big part of our budget. The cost of electricity on the open market went down.”
The new average increase for Columbia electricity customers is about $1.70 per month.
A 3 percent increase would have produced an average per month increase of about $2.50.
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