As Long Island Power Authority heard from its customers about its proposed power bill increases Thursday, it also announced ratepayers may be in store for even more hikes in the coming years.

LIPA CEO Kevin Law addressed a crowd at a public hearing at the Melville Marriot, telling them the power authority projects more than 17 percent in increases over the next five years.

Many residents attended the the two-part public hearing at the hotel to voice their complaints about a surcharge increase set to take effect in January. The utility says it's going to raise its power supply charge by 4.8 percent, which will amount to an average of about $90 more a year for its customers.

?We're senior citizens, we're looking to keep our costs down, not spend more money,? Steve Wolf, of Plainview, told LIPA officials at the hearing Thursday morning. He says he pays $250 a month to keep the lights on and that he can?t afford the 4.8 percent increase.

At the hearing, Suffolk legislators John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) and Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham) pleaded with Law to rework the spending plan, saying continued increases have become an issue of trust to many Long Islanders.

Read the 2009 Proposed Budget