Wash. utility's electric rates drop, gas rises

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state regulators have taken two actions that will result in lower electricity bills for Puget Sound Energy residential customers, while natural gas bills will rise. The Utilities and Transportation Commission on Wednesday accepted a Bonneville Power Administration electric power credit, which will allow residential electricity rates to drop by 3 percent. The commission also approved settlement of PSE's general rate case filed last December. PSE had requested an average increase of $7.50 for residential electricity customers. But that will be more than offset by the power credit, which will average about $10. Beginning next month, the average residential electric customer using 1000 kilowatt hours will see a decrease of about $2.50 a month, for an average bill of $97.50, the UTC said. A typical... [read full story]