Gulf Power asks for base rate adjustment

Citing rising costs and the need to strengthen Northwest Florida’s power system, Gulf Power Company has asked the Florida Public Service Commission to increase electricity rates.

The request is the company’s first base rate request in 10 years and would increase the total bill for a residential customer buying 1,000 kilowatt-hours by $12.15 per month — from $122.67 September, pending a final decision on the request in early 2012.

“Even though we have had increases to cover rising fuel and required environmental costs, we have not had an increase to cover the day-to-day cost of doing business for almost a decade,” Gulf Power spokesperson Sandy Sims said. “Since then costs have increased signficantly as we’ve built new power lines and substations. At the same time we’ve taken steps to strengthen and upgrade our electrical system that has been shaken by major hurricanes.”

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