Hartselle residents will have to pay a little more for water and electricity beginning Jan 1, 2013, while gas customers will benefit from rates that are 8.3 percent less than what they were a year ago.

“We’re adjusting water rates 2.81 percent as a pass through from a 3 percent increase we’re getting from Decatur Utilities,” said Bob Sittason, HU general manager. “That means a residential customer using 5,028 gallons of water per month would pay about 15 cents more. Sewage rates will not be affected.”

He also said electric rates for the November through January time frame will be about 2 percent higher than what they were a year ago. This adjustment comes as a pass through from monthly fuel cost adjustments passed on to HU by its supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority.

It will add $2 to $3 to the electric bill of the average residential customer.

On a brighter note, natural gas customers will benefit from a downturn in natural gas prices on the future’s market.

“We locked in 80 percent of our anticipated winter demand earlier this year at a rate that is 8.3 percent below what we paid in 2011,” Sittason stated. “If demand exceeds that level, we’ll have to buy off the open market and could see higher rates, but today’s supply is strong and rates are stable.”