Some utility customers to pay higher electric rates starting in August

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - If you get your electricity from Eversource, your monthly bill might about to go up. Starting August 1st, customers on the company’s basic service plan in western Massachusetts will see a rate hike.

Eversource said they blame global energy volatility and high wholesale costs for the increase. So, does this increase impact you?

As mentioned, starting August 1st, Eversource’s basic service rate will jump from just under 14 cents per kilowatt-hour to nearly 16 cents. Here’s what that means. Your bill will go up by about 14 dollars, give or take roughly how much energy you use per hour.

The company’s energy supply is adjusted twice a year. The change on Saturday can be contributed one of the coldest winters in more than a decade, high natural gas prices, and the ongoing conflict with Iran driving up wholesale costs.

A spokesperson for Eversource said in a statement that, “Energy supply is tightly constrained in New England and represents the largest, most volatile component of electric bills throughout the region.”

However, this hike only affects customers on “basic service.” in western Massachusetts, about 64 percent of customers are on municipal or third-party plans and will not see any impact.

A small silver lining for those that are paying a little more, Eversource said there will be a small refund for basic service customers next year because the state reduced clean energy standards.