Mississippi Power has requested an 8.5 percent rate increase by submitting its annual fuel costs adjustment and Performance Evaluation Plan base-rate filings to the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

According to a press release from Mississippi Power, the company is asking for a 4.5 percent increase to cover fuel costs and a 4 percent increase in the PEP filing.

“Our fuel costs filing includes the purchase of coal and natural gas to make electricity,” Mississippi Power Spokesperson Jeff Shepard said. “The PEP filing includes our costs of operating and maintaining company facilities such as power poles, substations and staff.”

If the requests are approved, residential customers using 1,000 kWh of electricity per month will see an increase of $11.45 on their power bill. The rate increase would be the second in 10 years, with the last one taking place in 2013, Shepard said.

The rate increase will help the company provide service that customers can rely on, Shepard said.

“We have been able to provide our customers with industry-leading customer service and performance without asking for a rate increase over the last four years,” Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Wilson said in the press release. “While our employees have found efficiencies in our operations companywide, these filings are necessary to deliver the level our customers expect.”

According to the press release, the PEP rate increase will not be used to cover construction of new power plants, including the Kemper County facility, or environmental control equipment.

“The Mississippi Public Service Commission is expected to make a decision on the rate increase sometime in January,” Shepard said.