In the past few weeks we've told you about utility rates going up around the Wiregrass area.

Now, another power company says they must pass their rising energy costs onto the customer.

The last time Alabama Power customers saw a rate increase was January of this year.

That increase was 6.5 percent to cover capital and environmental costs.

Alabama Power says its costs are out of control and they don't have the money necessary to cover them.

This week, the utility filed a request with the Public Service Commission to raise rates by 14.6 percent.

An average residential customer who uses around 1000 kilowatts per month could see their monthly bill increase by more than $16 dollars per month.

Spokesperson for Alabama Power Linda Brannon said, “In fact, over the last year, we saw a 16 percent increase in the price we pay for coal and 46 percent in the prices we pay for natural gas.”

The PSC will hold a public hearing to review the request on September 23rd.

“They will make their determination at some point following that, whether to grant our request wholly, partially or to reject it,” Brannon added.

Alabama Power services 1.3 million customers in the southern two thirds of the state.

Headland resident and Alabama Power customer Thomas Tanton says he has a little extra in the budget to cover the cost increase, but it's going to be tough on some people.

“Everything seems to be going up, but everybody's paychecks. That’s about the only thing that stays the same. Everything else has gone up, groceries and gas. So, I guess this is just one more thing,” Tanton said.

If the Utility Regulatory Board approves an increase, customers will see the rate change reflected on their October bills.

To discover ways to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your electric bill, log onto http://www.alabamapower.com/ and click the Energy Checkup link.