Crossroads Urban Center worried Rocky Mountain Power rate hike will hit too hard
Jul 3, 2024, 7:00 AM
FILE: Crossroads Urban Center is pictured in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. The group is worried the Rocky Mountain Power rate hike will be too much for people to handle financially. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The proposed rate hike by Rocky Mountain Power is causing concern in the low income community.
Rocky Mountain Power is seeking to increase its rates by around 30% between now and the start of 2026.
Glenn Bailey, Executive Director of the Crossroads Urban Center says a hike in power costs will make people have to choose between paying their bills or buying food.
“That the number one reason why people use emergency food pantries, because they’ve paid the rent and utilities and there isn’t enough money for food,” he said. “That will only get worse if utility bills rise.”
Bailey doesn’t know if his organization will be able to continue to help at their current level.
“We’d have to increase our resources in order to do more… it’s all private money. I think the need will increase,” he said.
Bailey says they already assist up to 25 people a month to keep their lights, gas and water on.
“This (increase) is only going to make that harder,” he said.
Bailey says high rent prices are also hitting low income people hard, which another reason people turn to Crossroads for help.
He plans to testify when Rocky Mountain Power takes it request to the Public Service Commission.
Related: “Priced out and Fed Up”: survey finds issues with housing affordability
