Longmont businesses not hit as hard

LONGMONT – Because the city of Longmont owns its electric utility, Longmont companies won’t be affected as much as others in the Boulder Valley by Xcel’s expected increase in electricity rates.

Longmont Power and Communications recently proposed electric rate increases for the city’s commercial customers to Longmont City Council.

If approved, increases of 3.2 percent for mid-size companies and 3.7 percent for large companies would go into effect January 2006, said Bill Ewer, customer services and marketing manager for the electric utility.

A public hearing on the proposed increase – the third and final phase of a three-year rate adjustment directed…