After 25 years without an increase, the Village of Westfield Electric Department has submitted a rate hike request to the state’s Department of Public Services.

According to a press release from village officials, Westfield “has delayed this as long as possible, but after careful consideration, on Dec. 18, the Village Board voted to proceed with the submission of a rate case.

The release continues, “The most recent increase in base rates was 1999. There are considerable capital needs required to replace aged equipment and to upgrade the system to the level it needs to be so we can serve the increasing electric load brought on by electric vehicle and building electrification initiatives from New York State. We are also starting a rehabilitation project to refurbish one of our aging substations. Finally, the village must keep up with inflation and accommodate increases in all our materials, equipment and fuel. “Transformer costs have skyrocketed nationwide over the past few years. Our electric system is an invaluable asset for our community. We must invest in it to ensure that it continues serving our residents for generations to come. This has been delayed to the (longest) degree possible, as we recognize that our customers are paying slightly more for power than they were 25 years ago, not due to village rates, but because of clean energy surcharges imposed by the state.”

The state will review the financial statements and the operation of Westfield’s electric department and make a final determination on an allowable rate based on its review.

The proposed rate increase requested will bring the residential rate from 3.7 cents per kwh currently, to 5.0 cents per kwh. This will amount to an increase of about $11 per month to a Westfield electric customer with average usage. The rate residents will pay after the increase goes into effect, when combined with clean energy surcharges and purchase power adjustment charges (PPAC), will average around 6.9 cents per kwh, up from an average of 5.6 cents. In comparison, the statewide average rate is 18 cents per kwh and the national average is 16.7 cents.

The proposed tariff and supporting documentation is available via the internet on the Department of Public Service’s Document and Matter Management (“DMM”) system under Case 24-E-0379. https://dps.ny.gov/electric

For more information, contact Rebecca Betts-Paternosh, Village Treasurer, at 716-326-4961 or Andrew Thompson, DPW Director, at 716-326-2145.