The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has taken some pricey measures to meet the power demand during the sweltering summer.

LIPA says it relies on private peak power generators to supply the extra energy during periods of increased usage. Officials say the cost of these plants, as well as the cross-sound cable that carries the megawatts over the Long Island Sound, is about $150 million annually. LIPA says the small plants can be more expensive to run, but they can be constructed in a fifth of the time it takes to build a large plant.

LIPA chairman Richard Kessel says the peak plants cost the average customer roughly $11 a month. He assures there will be no increase in rates this year, saying the costs are already built in.