The Kentucky Public Service Commission has approved a rate increase for customers of Big Rivers Electric Corporation.
The utility sought the increase to absorb the loss of its biggest customer, an aluminum smelter.
The PSC authorized Big Rivers to seek an additional $54.2 million from customers. That is about $20 million less than requested.
The change means the average monthly bill will increase about $17 dollars.
Century Aluminum's Hawesville smelter consumed about 40% of the power generated by Big Rivers before ending its relationship with the utility. Another Century Aluminum smelter, in Sebree, is scheduled to depart the Big Rivers system in January.
