By Angela Marshall
A village spokesperson said the hike is needed to meet increased expenses and fund the development of a new substation at the electric plant on Maple Avenue. The amount of the increase has not been determined.
Rates were last raised in July 1994, to pay for a new engine and substations. That increase was $850,000.
Rockville Centre is one of only three communities on Long Island to operate its own electric utility, and has done so since 1898. The majority of the electricity is imported hydropower from the New York Power Authority. Rockville Centre's engines provide supplemental electricity during peak demand.
Residents currently pay an average of 8 cents per kilowatt hour and their bills are less than half that paid by Long Island Power Authority customers in surrounding communities, according to the village's Web-site.
All rate increases must be approved by the New York State Public Service Commission. Depending on the amount of the increase requested, the commission may hold a hearing during which residents may ask questions and speak for or against the increase.
A representative of the Public Service Commission said that a rate-increase case is typically an 11-month process, so there would be no increase until next year.
