Published: November 19, 2008 10:25 am      

Price of power could go up 9.2 percent

GULFPORT, MS — Mississippi Power Co. has asked regulators for a rate increase of about 9.2 percent next year to offset rising fuel and coal transportation costs.

The utility says commercial and industrial customers will see higher increases.

Mississippi Power filed its annual fuel cost adjustment with the Public Service Commission on Monday.

A customer with an $85 monthly bill will pay $7.82 more under the new plan. If approved, the new rates will be effective in January.

A utility’s fuel costs are recovered through a fuel adjustment filing with the PSC, which adjusts prices to reflect the fluctuating costs of the fuel used to make electricity. The company does not make a profit from the fuel it burns.