In Barton Village: Seniors urge PSB to reject electric rate hike

 

copyright the Chronicle January 20, 2016

by Elizabeth Trail

BARTON — A handful of Barton senior citizens begged the Public Service Board (PSB) at a hearing here Thursday night to reject an 18 percent electric rate increase that went into effect in December of 2015.

Barton Village Electric was allowed to start charging the higher rate before the PSB, makes its final decision.

If the rate increase is denied or modified, Barton Electric will owe its customers a refund.

About eight village residents showed up at the hearing held at the Municipal Building on January 14. There were also three members of the press, two Barton Trustees, and assorted officials.

The public hearing was part of a PSB investigation into the “fairness and equity” of Barton Electric’s proposed rate increase.

Andrea McHugh, a utilities analyst with the Public Service Board, was the hearing officer.

Altogether the planned rate increase will be just under 21 percent. The 18 percent increase took effect on December 5. Another increase of almost 3 percent is scheduled to go into effect on December 5, 2016.

“This will have an enormous impact on the seniors who are… To read the rest of this article, and all the Chronicle‘s stories, subscribe:

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