During a time when costs are rising, Butler County is locking in rates for its electricity.

The county commissioners on Wednesday ratified two contracts with First Energy for providing electricity to county buildings.

Under one agreement, First Energy will power the government center and courthouse on Diamond Street for 6.9 cents per kilowatt used, also known as a kilowatt-hour.

The county will pay 6.3 cents per kilowatt-hour at the prison and Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The second contract sets the rate for the county’s 26 other buildings at 6.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The commissioners also ratified the termination of a contract with Glacial Energy, the former electricity provider.

Although that contract projected a rate of 5.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, the actual rate charged was 7.3 cents.

Chief county clerk Bill O’Donnell said the new contracts are better because the rates are locked in for three years.