Thousands of Wyoming businesses see higher bills
Forest Wakefield, who runs the Log Cabin Motel in Pinedale with his wife, said the change has resulted in their motel's power bill going up two to three times what it was last year.
The Wakefields said they're worried this winter's electric bills will force them to close the motel until spring.
The billing change assesses additional fees on certain customers with higher power demands.
About 6,500 of Rocky Mountain Power's nearly 130,000 customers in Wyoming were affected by the new formula, according to Chris Petrie, secretary and chief counsel for the Wyoming Public Service Commission.
Rocky Mountain Power spokesman David Eskelsen said the change was needed to help pay for millions of dollars in new power generators and infrastructure.
Eskelsen acknowledged that some Wyoming power customers have seen "dramatic" changes in their power bills, but he said Rocky Mountain Power is working to help them find ways to lower their electricity usage.
In the Wakefields' case, conducting an energy audit might help the couple find ways to lower their energy usage, Petrie said.
But Wakefield said that's not practical for a motel.
"If you're running a hotel, you should tell your clients to not take a shower or use the water heater?" Wakefield said.
Related News
Electricity blackouts spark protests in Iranian cities
TEHRAN - There have been protests in a number of cities in Iran amid rising public anger over widespread electricity blackouts.
Videos on social media appeared to show crowds in Shar-e Rey near Tehran, Shiraz, Amol and elsewhere overnight.
Some people can be heard shouting "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei" - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The government has apologised for the blackouts, which it has blamed on a severe drought and high demand.
President Hassan Rouhani explained in televised remarks on Tuesday morning that the drought meant most of the country's hydroelectric power plants were not operating,…
