Several readers have called and referred to an editorial published in an out-of-town newspaper Saturday titled "Utility rate hike too much, too fast."

I saw it. I was ... stunned. It contends that Tarboro Town Council was wrong to pass an increase in electric rates effective Aug. 1.

As we have been reporting since May 13, electric bills are going up. At that time, it was estimated the increase would be about 9.5 percent.

Since then, members of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency and ElectriCities have met (June 27 in Rocky Mount) and recommended a 14 percent increase in wholesale electric rates.

The ElectriCities Board of Directors meets Friday and is expected to approve the increase.

In anticipation of the rate hike, Tarboro Town Council last week unanimously approved a 13.2 percent hike in the town's electric rates, effective Aug. 1.

The out-of-town newspaper states, "Unfortunately for that town's residents, it made the wrong choice and at the wrong time."

Wrong?

Did Town Council have any choice?

OK, let's say the town does not pass the rate increase under the guise of protecting its residents.

Who pays for the electricity?

Does the ElectriCities board have any choice?

The out-of-town newspaper suggests passing, say, a 7 percent increase at this time. Stagger the increase, it says. It's not fair.

Maybe that sounds good to some folks, but who is going to pay the bill?

Should the bills be paid from tax revenue or should consumers using the utility pay for what they use?