The Atlanta Constitution reported last week that Georgia Power has requested a rate increase that would increase the monthly electric bill of residential customers by $6.98. The request, if approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), would take effect April 1, 2010, raising the typical customer’s monthly bill to $109.42. Of that monthly bill, 42 percent would be attributed to fuel costs.

Georgia Power is asking for $3.9 billion to cover the costs of fuel for the period from April 2010 to May 2011. This represents a $470 million increase over its current fuel cost charge.

The new filing was delayed from last spring at the request of Georgia Power due to the economic recession.

The PSC will hold public hearings on the matter in February 2010 with a decision expected to come in March of next year.