ALAMEDA — Customers of Alameda Municipal Power will soon notice an increase when they open their bills.

Electric rates will go up 1 percent beginning July 1 for residential and commercial customers. The city’s Public Utilities Board approved the increase at its April 23 meeting as part of the budget for fiscal year 2019.

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The increase is needed to improve infrastructure, including cables, poles, transformers and circuit breakers, according to the utility’s officials.

The increase also will help Alameda Municipal Power move toward a structure that ensures fairness for all customers by aligning the rates for each customer class with the cost of providing electrical service.

As a community-owned and locally operated electric system, Alameda Municipal Power does not make a profit on rates. Revenue from electricity sales in Alameda goes toward the operation of the electric system and toward improving community services for residents through the utility’s annual transfer of more than $5 million to the city’s general fund.

In 2016, Alameda voters approved the Utilities Modernization Act, the annual transfer to the city’s general fund to support city services. Among the programs available to customers of Alameda Municipal Power are a free, in-house energy review; an energy assistance program for qualifying low-income customers; and a medical discount program.

Alameda Municipal Power is a city department that has served residents and businesses for 131 years. Go to www.alamedamp.com for more information on the utility.