Brace yourselves for another big increase in your power bill next month. The Public Utilities Commission has approved a two-step increase in the fuel surcharge known as the LEAC. Starting July 1, it will go up by $0.25 per kilowatt hour, and on September 1 it will increase to $0.29.  

GPA says that means the average monthly residential bill of $300 will rise to about $350 in July, and to about $400 in September.

GPA and the PUC blame soaring global fuel prices that have risen by 70 percent since January. The LEAC increase just keeps GPA’s current $35 million fuel under-recovery costs from growing.