Clark Public Utilities anticipates another tight year in a $377 million electric system budget for 2011, but the proposed budget anticipates no rate increases.
The utility’s three elected commissioners anticipated no rate increase a year ago at this time. When sales lagged due to a mild winter and the economic recession, commissioners balanced the books by raising rates by 5.7 percent in September.
This time, utility officials said, they anticipate sluggish economic conditions will continue.
About 69 percent of the utility’s budget goes directly into purchasing power or buying fuel for the gas-fired River Road Generating Plant.
Clark will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Nov. 30 on the proposed electric system budget, along with budgets for the generating system and water utility. The meeting will be held at the utility’s headquarters at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way.
