No ED3 rate increase for 5th year

Electrical District No. 3 board of directors approved its 2014 budget without a rate increase for the fifth consecutive year, according to an ED3 press release Thursday.

The vote was Oct. 23.

This year customers saw the beginning of construction for the South Eastern Valley 500 kV transmission line in the southern part of the utility’s territory to provide access to electrical power from the Palo Verde hub to Electrical District No. 3 and five other electrical utilities.

The transmission line will be completed in May and Electrical District No. 3 will begin taking power from this line in January 2015.

According to the press release, December 2012 was the start of ED3’s five-year construction work plan, which was put in place to upgrade a number of 69 kV high voltage lines and replace several substation transformers in the southern part of the system.

The utility already completed major upgrades to 4r miles of 69 kV high voltage line on Highway 84 from White and Parker Road to its Sexton substation at the corner of Anderson Road.

ED3 reports seeing positive growth of new residential services for new homes and commercial facilities in its service area.

As the city of Maricopa and the surrounding area continues to expand, Electrical District No. 3 continues to provide ways for customers to learn how to conserve energy and save money. Multiple money-saving programs are available to customers as well as the Energy Assistance Fund, which is a donation program designed to assist customers who need help paying their electric bills.

For more information on ED3’s rates and convenient money-saving programs please visit www.ED3online.org.