After last week’s statewide power outages during a harsh cold snap, which affected some Panhandle residents, the Amarillo City Council voted unanimously to approve a new surcharge of $71 million.

The resolution, passed by the Amarillo City Council, approved Xcel Energy’s petition to “implement a net surcharge in the amount not to exceed $71,546,546, including interest in the amount of $1,604,142.”

Based on the memo provided for the meeting, this surcharge will amount to a roughly 13.19 percent surcharge increase for residential class customers. This means for the average customer using 1,000 kWh per month, their bill is expected to rise by roughly $12.85 per month.

The surcharge is expected to be implemented over a period lasting almost a year, from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022.

Thomas Warren

Thomas Warren, III is the editor-in-chief of the Amarillo Pioneer newspaper in Amarillo, Texas.

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