The Delmarva Power request for a 5.5 percent rate hike will be getting some scrutiny in Salisbury this Thursday in Salisbury.
A commission appointed by the governor will be examining this second rate increase request in as many years from the region’s largest power company which serves half a million customers in Delaware and Eastern Shore.
The rate increase would raise electric bills by an average of $7.74 a month with a new typical charge coming in at $147.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that the additional $22.9 million would cover upgrades to existing infrastructure and tree-trimming among other things.
It is also designed to recoup $6.5 million in restoration costs from last year’s derecho and Superstorm Sandy.
But the commission staff has suggested cutting their request to $12.7 million.
Last July the commission okayed a 3.1 percent increase Delmarva Power which had asked for 5.6 percent.
