As expected and as announced earlier, the JEA is increasing its rates for water, sewer and electricity by 3.7 percent, on average.
But before you get settled into the new rate, prepare to be whacked again in October. That increase will be 5.1 percent.
Why not just make it 8.8 percent now? The question answers itself.
The city-owned utility is just getting over a major scandal involving a rogue chief executive and does not need to make customers any angrier.
As most people know, JEA is locked into a long-term contract to buy electricity from a nuclear power plant being built in Georgia. The capital cost is eye-opening and seemingly ever-changing, but the hope is that it will be balanced out somewhat by lower operating costs.
Plant Vogtle is the largest in the nation and the current cost of $45 billion helped drive Westinghouse Electric Co. into bankruptcy.
JEA has an online calculator that customers can use to find their exact cost increase.
According to the Florida Municipal Electric Association, JEA bills were slightly below the average in Florida as of November.
The utility’s customers also face billions of dollars in costs for wastewater treatment as a result of rising environmental standards.
