FRANKFORT, KY - The Kentucky Public Service Commission has scheduled public hearings this month in Paducah and Henderson to get input on a proposal that would raise rates for customers of Big Rivers Electric Corporation.

The initial hearing will be at the West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah on Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Another hearing will be at Henderson Community College on Aug. 14 at 2 p.m.

Big Rivers wants to spend about $284 million to comply with new federal environmental requirements affecting utilities that burn coal to generate electricity.
 
Most customers would not see an increase in electricity rates until 2018, but the rates paid by the 22 largest industrial customers would increase beginning in 2016.