On Monday, the Danville Utility Commission recommended approval of proposed rate increases for the city. Under the proposed increases the average electric bill for a residential customer would increase about $4.50 a month, while the average gas bill would increase about $3 a month, the average water bill would increase by about $1.50 a month, and the average wastewater bill would increase by a little over $2 a month.

The proposed increases come after a biennial study said Danville Utilities needed to increase prices. 

“Our reason is because of inflationary cost increases of materials water pipe, gas pipes, transformers, labor costs, so all of those things are increasing our costs to provide service and to make our system reliable. Other utilities have a little bit further distance to catch up then we do, we’ve done a great job over the past ten plus years of doing biennial rate studies, which keeps up in check of what our projections need to be,” said Danville Utilities Director Jason Grey.

Danville City Council will vote on the proposed rate increases after two public hearings that will be held in May.