PSC To Hold Public Meetings On Rate Increase Requests

by Gabe BullardThe Kentucky Public Service Commission will hold a series of public meetings in the coming months to discuss proposed rate increases from Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities. LG&E and KU are requesting the increases to cover the cost of infrastructure improvements and to recoup losses from ice and wind storms.The PSC has received many letters from customers who say now is not the time for rate increases."We're also hearing a lot of comments along the lines of the fact that when the storms hit, a lot of customers whose power went out weren't compensated for spoiled food and so froth and they don't feel LG&E ought to be compensated for the cost of repairing the damage," says PSC spokesperson Andrew Melnykovych.Melnykovych says the commission will take those into account."But at the same time, we have to look at the criteria that are set forth in state law and in state regulations in terms of allowing the companies sufficient revenue to provide safe, adequate and reliable service. So it's very much a balancing act," he says.The PSC will hold its hearing on the requests in June. The dates and times for the public hearings have not been set.