A West Penn Power employee works to repair downed electric lines in Butler. Butler County residents — except Zelienople residents — will pay more than 8 cents per kilowatt-hour for electric generation beginning June 1 as both Penn Power and West Penn Power hiked their rates for customers. Butler Eagle file photo.

Some Butler County residents will pay more than 8 cents per kilowatt-hour for electric generation beginning June 1 as both Penn Power and West Penn Power hiked their rates for customers.

West Penn Power, which serves much of northern and western Butler County, is increasing its electric generation rates by 44.6%, from 5.667 cents to 8.198 cents per kWh, while Penn Power, serving the county’s southern tier, will hike its generation rates from 7.082 to 8.694 cents per kWh, a 22.7% jump.

West Penn Power customers who use 846 kWh a month — the average monthly household usage in Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration — would see their bill for electric generation increase by more than $21 per month.

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