Lakeland officials vote to increase fuel charge for electricity customers

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Lakeland City Commission voted to increase the electric fuel charge for Lakeland Electric customers beginning next month.

The city says the rate increase is due to the rising cost of natural gas.

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Read: Pain at the pump: Florida gas prices hold steady, national average jumps again

Beginning July 1, customers will see an increase from 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Read: Rising gas prices lead to juggling act for Kissimmee’s fleet manager

Tory Bombard with Lakeland Electric said that even with the change, the utility company has some of the lowest electric rates in the state.

“We are using every strategy we know of to keep customers’ costs low,” Bombard said.

Read: ‘$5 a gallon is quickly becoming a very real possibility’: Gas hits another record high in Florida

This is Lakeland Electric’s first fuel charge increase in 15 months.

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