News

Wilson Energy lowers natural gas, residential electric rates

Friday, January 20, 2012

Wilson Energy customers will pay less this winter to heat their homes, thanks to rate reductions announced Thursday night.

City Manager Grant Goings told City Council that he was recommending a 3-percent reduction in residential electric rates and a 5-percent reduction for all natural gas customers.

With Council’s permission, the rates will now go into effect for the February 2012 billing cycle.

Mayor Bruce Rose called the reductions “very good news … I don’t see how anyone could oppose that."

Goings credited Wilson Energy’s staff with cutting costs and improving efficiency, which made the electric rate reduction possible. The gas reduction was driven by lower market prices, he added.

This will be the first change in residential electric rates since July 2010 when rates were cut 5 percent. Rates for small businesses were also reduced 5 percent in November 2011.

Reductions in natural gas rates have been more frequent. The new 5-percent cut is the fifth time Wilson Energy has cut natural gas rates since January 2009.