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Struthers committee told to lock a 21‑month city electric supply as transmission charges push rates up
Summary
Council committees were told transmission capacity charges have risen sharply and are the primary driver of rate increases; staff recommended locking a 21‑month supplier term for municipal accounts while holding off on a residential aggregation contract until bids fall below 10 (figures as reported in the meeting). Ordinances to authorize city and aggregation contracts were introduced and seconded; no final adoption is recorded in the transcript.
Tom Bellish, the city’s energy consultant, told the Struthers public utilities committee that rapidly rising transmission capacity charges — the fee suppliers pass through to move power from generating plants into local distribution systems — are the main factor driving electric rates higher for both municipal accounts and residents.
"That portion has gone up a lot...it used to be maybe half a cent...now it's more like 3 and a half or 4," Bellish said in the meeting, describing the recent jump in capacity charges and noting capacity prices cited in the meeting extend through May 2028. He said generation costs remain relatively low but the transmission component has pushed total prices above what residents and the city have typically paid.
Bel…
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