Lewes BPW approves electric rate hike
The Lewes Board of Public Works unanimously approved a 10.14% increase in electric rates at its April 24 meeting.
Kim Bellere, BPW finance manager, said the average ratepayer will see an $11 increase in monthly bills starting in June.
She said average commercial customers will pay about $28 more per month. Industrial customers will pay $700 more per month on average.
“We reevaluate our rates every year. Our rates had been low, hence why a lot of deferred maintenance happened over prior years,” said Tom Panetta, BPW president.
Bellere said the actual amount of the increase to BPW will be $540,000 through December.
Panetta said the increase is needed because of a shortfall in capacity, which was caused, in part, by the closure of the Indian River power plant in 2022.
