Jesus H Christ

[averageusaconsumer]

It's a ing scorcher out there today. AC is working overtime today.

[SpursWoman]

Yeah, I just got my CPS bill yesterday ... it was a pretty healthy jump from last month.

[Shelly]

Get ready to pay more...

SAN ANTONIO -- CPS Energy officials sought and were approved last week to increase rates beginning in September, but customers will begin seeing higher energy bills this summer due to unrelated costs.

Days before the unofficial start to summer in South Texas, CPS Energy officials released their forecast for the season, which is likely to mean an increase of 30 percent for an average household.

"You know, it's very similar to what you see at the gas pump," CPS Energy spokeswoman Sylvia Arnold said. "Much, much higher this year than last year."

The average customer can expect to pay an extra $38 more each month, or a total of $162 per month from June to September, according to utility officials.

Besides the hot weather forcing residents to lower the thermostat, utility officials said the increasing price of natural gas is another pricing factor.

The utility has increased the amount of low-income assistance available for customers unable to pay their bill, Arnold said.

"They should contact us as soon as possible, as soon as they know they will have trouble paying the bill," she said. "That means they should do that on or before the day the bill is due."

State officials have planned a tax-free weekend beginning Saturday for people purchasing Energy Star appliances. More information on the tax-free weekend can be found on the Texas Comptroller's Web site.

More information on CPS Energy's payment assistance program can be found on the utility's Web site.

Copyright 2008 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.ksat.com/news/16331189/detail.html

[Jesus]

It's a ing scorcher out there today. AC is working overtime today.

Get used to it and leave me out of it.