By Alabama Public Radio
Knoxville, TN – The Tennessee Valley Authority raised its power rates about seven-and-a-half percent in October. Yesterday, the board approved another rate increase of nearly 10 percent. That will take effect April first. Directors are justifying the hike, saying fuel is more expensive and so is the power purchased from other producers. T-V-A Chairman Bill Baxter says there's been a 52 percent increase in those costs just in the past two years. The latest rate increase is expected to bring in another 276 million dollars this fiscal year. The T-V-A provides electricity to parts of north Alabama and six other southeastern states.