The cost of electricity for FortisBC customers is, once again, on the rise.
As of Jan. 1, 2015, electricity bills will see a 3.5 per cent increase, or an average of $4.12 more on each bi-monthly bill, and this isn't the first time.
Over the past decade, FortisBC has enacted at least eight rate increases on electricity, totalling 31.1 per cent.
The current rate increase isn't set in stone and is subject to review by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) based on input from stakeholders, customers and municipalities.
Requests for comment from the utility spokesperson went unanswered by press time but the company has given various reasons in the past while trying explain rateincreases to its customers.
BC Hydro increased the price of electricity sold to FortisBC in 2009, resulting in a 4.6 per cent increase on customers' bills.
In 2007, the utility raised their rates by 1.2 per cent, citing capital programs designed to follow customer growth and higher prices for electricity from BC Hydro.
The BCUC approved a customer rate increase of six percent in 2010 due to a decision increasing the amount of money paid out to shareholders and to meet a higher customer demand for power.