Business Insider / Joe BocchioliThe Eastside has seen its electricity bills rise over the past few years as its electricity generation has declined.
And that trend is set to continue as the region’s electricity usage increases and its population increases.
Electricity prices are up in many parts of the East Side, and East Side electric bills are expected to go up over the next few years, according to a recent report from the Eastland Electric Cooperative.
The Eastland electric cooperative, which provides electricity to nearly 600 businesses in the community, said it has increased its rates for some of its electric customers to pay for the increase in demand.
The average bill for the first quarter of 2019 was $13.80, up from $12.60 in the previous year, the cooperative said.
The rate increase will affect customers with electric-only electricity, which have an annual electric bill of about $3.50.
The cooperative said that rate increase is part of a plan to increase electric rates to support new projects and improve customer service.
The Eastland Cooperative is the largest electric cooperatives in the country.