Bushnell, IL – Utility rates in Bushnell might not increase by as much as once thought.
The city council agreed to scale back the initial proposal after receiving significant push back from the community a few weeks ago.
Aldermen originally wanted a one time 11 percent increase in natural gas rates, and a one time 30 percent increase in electricity rates. Under the new proposal, natural gas rates would increase by two percent per year over the next three years. Electricity rates would increase based on the type of customer you are.
For example, residential customers would see increases of 14 percent, industrial customers 9.5 percent, municpal buildings would see increases of rougly 8 percent, and commercial businesses 6 percent.
Mayor Steve Russell says the move is, in part, an attempt to make up for the city's loss of roughly $400,000 in utility costs over the past few years.
"We have to pay our bills too," says Russell. "We haven't raised [our rates] in, you know, ten years or so. We feel like maybe it's appropriate at this time."
Russell says the rate hikes are also needed because unforseen infrastructure repairs, in addition to the loss of revenue in utilities, have decimated the city's reserves. The initial plan would have helped replenish reserves within two years. Russell says this plan will replenish them in about ten.
That's if no more unforseen repairs or projects come up.
The proposed utility rate hikes will go before aldermen for final approval on the regularly scheduled December 20th city council meeting.