Those of us who live in parts of King County, which includes Vashon Island, have just been advised by Puget Sound Energy (PSE), our natural gas and electric provider and the only provider that we have access to, that they are requesting a rate increase. If this increase goes through, here is what it will cost us all: $159.7 million for our electric charges (an 8.08 percent increase) and $33.3 million for the natural gas they supply (an increase of 3.16 percent).

One has to wonder why, in these tough economic times, our energy provider would consider such an increase, especially since they already are the most expensive energy provider in this area. Below are the rates charged by other local providers, as well as our own PSE.

A family that uses 892 kilowatt hours of electricity per month will pay $64.75 per month with Tacoma Power; $69.41 per month with Seattle City Light; $78.25 per month with Snohomish PUD and $92.58 per month with PSE.

One has to wonder why we who have no choice but to use PSE for our electric power are paying almost a third more than our neighbors to the south.

I could not find out how our natural gas charges compared, but the electric charges were by far the greater concern, increasing by a whopping 8.08 percent.

Two hearings for the rate increases will be held. The first is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Bellevue City Hall Council Chambers, 450 110th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue. The second is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Washington Utilities Transportation Commission Hearing Room 206, located at 1300 So. Evergreen Park Drive in Olympia.

I think PSE has some explaining to do.

— Marilynn Ahlin