Liberty Energy rates expected to rise in early 2012

Liberty Energy customers, this includes all Lake Tahoe Basin customers in California, are likely to see their electric bills go up in February.

The company asked the state Public Utilities Commission for a 1.2 percent increase for all customers to essentially handle the increase in the cost of doing business.

“It covers more or less the cost of inflation of operations,” explained Jeanne Matthews, Liberty’s customer service billing manager.

Even though bills that came out in December said the rate increase would take effect Jan. 1, that is not going to happen because the CPUC has not approved the hike. Matthews said she expects the state board to OK the increase in January.

For a bill that is $90 for the month it will mean an increase of $1.08 per month.

This is better news than what Nevada Energy ratepayers in Southern Nevada got this week. On Jan. 1 their rates go up about 10 percent a month. The utility had sought a 24 percent increase.

— Kathryn Reed