NPU approves economic development rate

During its August Board meeting, NPU Commissioners approved a new economic development rate to help attract large commercial and industrial customers to Norwich. The new rate would apply only to the largest customers that consumer 100,000 kilowatts of electricity or more each month. Eligible customers would receive a discount over five years that would decrease each year.

For example:

• A commercial customer with an annual peak usage of 6 million kilowatts would save $32,941 in the first year, a 13.5% discount, while still paying about $210,972 in annual electric bills to NPU.
• A new customer with annual peak usage of 4.2 million kilowatts would save an estimated $75,805, or 12.7% in the first year, with NPU still receiving $519,926 in electric revenue from the customer, and the City $51,923.

The cost of the proposed program already is included in a previously approved rate increase scheduled to take effect Nov. 1.