An increase in the fuel surcharge will push ASPA bills up for the month of May.

For residential customers the rate will jump from .38 cents per kilowatt hour in April to 46 cents for May.  The system rate combines the base rate which is 9 cents and the fuel surcharge which is 36 cents per kilowatt hour.

For small general commercial customers the system rate is .47 cents per kilowatt hour and for large general customers the rate is .45 cent per kilowatt hour.

ASPA says as the cost of fuel increases, so does the cost of fuel ASPA uses to generate electricity.

The fuel surcharge is about 70 to 75% of the total kilowatt cost.  This is considered a pass through reveue because it goes directly to pay the local fuel suppliers for diesel fuel used at the five power plants on Tutuila, Manu’a and Aunuu.

The fixed Electric Base Rate remains the same and has not changed since 2010.  This revenue pays  ASPA’s operating costs and infrastructure upgrades.

ASPA advises customers to conserve electricity and reduce usage to keep their electricity bills down.