A proposed electricity rate bill was introduced Thursday that could change how municipalities charge their customers.

ELLWOOD CITY, Beaver County — New state legislation that would affect how municipalities manage their electricity rates was introduced Thursday.

Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, whose district includes Slippery Rock township and borough in Butler County, and others gathered at a residence on Wampum Avenue to talk about the bill, which would require borough electric providers to adopt more uniform rate structures.

“Presently, residents of dozens of boroughs across Pennsylvania see their electric bills increase by factors of 100 to 200 percent on a month-to-month basis without an increase in consumer consumption,” according to a release on Bernstine's website.

Bernstine at the news conference called the bipartisan bill “good, common sense legislation” that would drive down electric costs and would increase accountability for municipalities.

“This is legislation that will stop the excessive burden that the municipal electric companies are putting on their consumers,” he said. “Thirty-five boroughs across the Commonwealth are using government-owned, monopolized electric companies to inappropriately gouge their customers.”

Rep. Pam Snyder, D-50th, is co-sponsoring the bill.

To read more on this story, pick up the Sunday edition of the Butler Eagle or subscribe to ButlerEagle.com.