Vt.'s largest power utility seeks to raise rates

RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Vermont's largest electric utility is asking for permission to raise its rates by 5.91 percent.

Central Vermont Public Service Corp. President Bob Young says the money raised by the increase is needed to offset increased power and transmission costs and reliability improvements to the utility's system.

If approved by the Public Service Board, a residential customer who uses 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a month would see their bill go up by $4.40.

Young says the utility has worked hard to balance costs with customers' expectations for reliability and service.

If approved the increase would take effect Jan. 1.