Vermillion power rates to see increase

USD students living off campus will see an average of an 8.2 percent increase in electricity rates beginning next year.

Average Vermillion city residents will be paying approximately $5.39 more on their electricity bill due to a raise in rates at Western Area Power Administration, the main supplier of electricity in Vermillion, City Engineer Harold Holoch announced at the Vermillion City Council meeting Monday.

Holoch said the increase is due to a deficiency in water supplies from the Missouri River.

City council member Jack Powel said although the council doesn’t like to see any increase in rates, it’s not a large difference in cost.

“Our hope is that, as the reservoirs build back up, we can’t always decrease rates, but we can hopefully limit increases,” Powel said.

USD student representative Matt Blake said the change in rates is relatively small, but might still have a small effect on students.

“I don’t think it will completely adversely affect students,” Blake said. “It’s not a huge blow to the wallet, but any increase to a student is not good.”

Reach reporter Josie Clarey at Josie.Clarey@usd.edu.
 

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