February 14, 2000 For More Information, Contact: EWEB's External Communications Coordinator Eugene Water & Electric Board Commissioners to Consider Increases to Electric Rates; Public Hearing Scheduled for Tuesday, February 15. Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal that would increase rates for most EWEB electric customers. The hearing will be held during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting in EWEB’s Board Room and will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Under the proposal, electric rates would increase by an average of 8.5 percent for residential customers. This would increase the average residential customer’s electric bill by $4.70 per month. Sharply increasing prices for purchased power are responsible for the vast majority of the increase. A small portion of the increase covers cost escalations and inflation. Electric rates were last increased in April 1993 to cover a Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rate increase. The last increase prompted by EWEB costs was in 1991. The EWEB Board is scheduled to make its final decision on the rate increase on March 7 after a second public hearing. The new rates would be effective April 1. -30-