The Ottawa Electric fund is bleeding millions of dollars each year, and the only way to arrest it is to raise electric rates sharply. That’s the unpleasant conclusion of a rate study by a consultant. Don Gruenmeyer told the City Commission that one problem is that the customer base is stagnant.
City officials are indicating a possible 10 percent rate hike for the rest of this year, with 4% to 5% increases each year after that. The official decision to increase rates is expected to come at the August 7th City Commission meeting.
