longisland

LIPA customers will see a nearly $17 increase in their January bills.

There was supposed to be a "rate freeze" when PSEG takes over from LIPA in the new year, but officials say there was an unanticipated jump in natural gas prices.

LIPA officials say the hike will appear on the bill as a power supply charge, which will reflect the cost of fuel and energy. One LIPA trustee told News 12 this is one of the highest increases he can recall, but says it's not surprising.

A LIPA spokesperson defended the spike, saying it's an industry-accepted practice. Many Long Island ratepayers are criticizing the move.

Meanwhile, customers who use more electric could be paying up to a $30 to $40 hike, but officials say it will fluctuate.

LIPA customers will see a nearly $17 increase in their January bills.    There was supposed to be a "rate freeze" when PSEG takes over from LIPA in the new year, but officials say there was an unanticipated

Long Island

LI | Weather

LIFORECAST

And things are a little bit improved out there. We do have, uh, that steady rain finally becoming a little bit more scattered, a little bit lighter shower activity as we close off the day and move into the darker parts of the evening. So four or five o'clock, not as much activity out there, but there is still some mist. There's definitely a pretty steady east breeze all the way through midnight. So don't be surprised if there's like spritzes and drizzle until about midnight or so. Then the wind shifts west. It pushes all of that gross weather out for the Monday morning commute. You are dry, you're sunny and temperatures are in the forties. It's sunny until lunch on Monday and then we get into clouds again, but no rain this time, we still have that west wind. So it's a little too dry for rain. Temperatures are around the low fifties, which is pretty good. But then we start to get a north wind and by Tuesday we are in the thirties in the morning. That's about right for this time of the year, we're gonna continue to drop. Those temperatures are going to be a lot cooler by Wednesday and Thursday, Tuesday afternoon. We're only in the low to mid forties and we have some clouds. I think that's gonna be kind of the pattern for the whole work week. It looks like that. We have sunshine in the morning clouds in the afternoon, but there is no rain in the forecast after today. So we have still a pretty decent chance of passing a shower or two in the evening because a much lighter shower at this point, there's no heavy rain in the forecast for the rest of today and we're done with the rain for the whole entire work week. Let's talk about the work week. We're expecting 45 for a high on Tuesday, 42 Wednesday and even colder Thursday, 41. Now, if you remember last week, we were in the thirties for highs some days. So this is an improvement for sure, but it is still gonna be chilly. You'll still need the heavy winter jacket, especially in the morning. We move into the next weekend and then comes the fifties. We are not done yet with some of that milder weather.

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LIPA rates to increase by nearly $17 in January