PSC approves rate increase for Miss. Power plant

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Public Service Commission is giving Mississippi Power Co. approval to start collecting a rate to pay for its Kemper plant, but not as much as the company wanted.

The regulatory body voted 2-1 Tuesday to approve a 15 percent increase this year, followed by a 3 percent increase in 2014. It would allow the unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. to start paying off debt related to the power plant it's building in Kemper County.

Earlier Tuesday, the PSC approved other changes reducing Mississippi Power rates by 2.7 percent, meaning the net increase will be 12.3 percent.

Commission staffers say a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours per month would pay $16.50 to $17.50 more, after decreases are considered. The average Mississippi Power customer uses more electricity than that.