Lakeland Electric customers will see higher fuel charges starting April 1 after a late-January cold snap raised natural gas prices and drained millions from Lakeland Electric’s reserves.
City Commissioners voted 6-1 Monday, March 2, to raise the monthly fuel charge from $47 to $62 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours in April, May and June. That will add about $18 to the bill of a typical household using 1,200 kWh a month.
Fuel costs are passed directly to customers with no markup, utility spokeswoman Cathryn Lacy explained. They fluctuate with market conditions and are separate from the utility’s base rates, which cover operating costs such as personnel and infrastructure…