How have these new rates and fees impacted residential customers Santa Cruz County?
Higher energy costs were expected to increase average residential bills in Santa Cruz County by 13 percent, or $11 per month. This increase was partly offset by a reduction of 1 percent, or about $0.82 per month, in UES’ Santa Cruz County distribution rates. When combined with the new fees which have added about 2.5 percent, or about $2.15 per month these changes were expected to increase residential bills in Santa Cruz County by a total of 14.5 percent, or $12.28 per month. Q: What was the reason for the increase? A: Most of the increase stems from the expiration of the company’s previous long-term power supply contract, which protected customers from rising energy costs. The contract, which has provided energy to UES customers at a cost well below today’s market prices, expired May 31. Although UES owns some small generators, it must purchase the majority of the power it delivers to customers from other providers. Thus, the company was forced to replace its expiring power supply cont
