MEA rates to rise

Matanuska Electric Association announced Monday that they plan to raise rates by about 2 and a half cents per kilowatt hour, or the equivalent of 26 dollars more a month for the average residential user.

The increase takes effect this month and is about a 17 percent increase.  MEA officials say they have increased rates due to a rate hike in Chugach Electric Association’s rates.  Chugach is MEA’s main power supplier and Chugach rates have increased 31 percent.  That contract expires in 2014 at which time MEA hopes to have other power sources online.