SaskPower raising rates 2% in September

On second thought,SaskPowersays itsrateswill indeedgo up anothertwo per cent on Sept. 1.

Last year, the rate review panelapproved a rateincrease of up to five per centfor 2015, but at the time the Crown opted to only raise rates by three per cent.

"Initially when the rate increase was granted and we looked forward at our financial picture last fall, our finances looked in not too bad shape," said Mike Marsh, president and CEO of the company.

Now SaskPower now says variety of factors challenges with aging infrastructure, damage due to wind and wildfires and increased usage requires the company to go back to the original plan and raiserates further.

"It's going to be a long path to get this infrastructure back into good shape," Marsh said.

"That's why regular, moderate rate increases are what we're looking for as we go forward and we hope to be able to come forward with a small rate request on a regular basis that doesn't cause too much shock for people."

It says the average household will see its bill go up $1.70 per month.

The total five per cent rate increase will bring in $100 million in revenue, Marsh said.

He says a rate increase was not approved for 2016. SaskPower will look at it's financial situation before potentially returning to the rate review board to ask for another rate increase.