The California Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 7 told Liberty Utilities it must reach out to its ratepayers before the state would approve a hike in electric costs.

In May, Liberty Utilities filed a request with the CPUC for a 17.34 percent increase that the company wanted to be implemented starting Jan. 1. At the time Liberty said the general rate increase would increase revenue by $13.571 million and would be used to recover costs associated with the distribution of power to its 49,000 customers.

Liberty services the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, Truckee, Alpine County and other locations.

An administrative law judge has ruled that Liberty must conduct public participation hearings.

“The purpose of the (hearings) is to make customers aware of the proposed revenue changes, and to solicit comments from the customers of the utilities about the impact the applications could have on them,” according to the CPUC.

The hearings will be:

·       Jan. 7 at 1pm and 6pm, North Lake Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach;

·       Jan. 8 at 1pm and 6pm, Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report