Tampa Electric bills going up

Tampa Electric customers are facing a significant increase in their monthly bills come January to offset spiraling fuel costs. The Tampa utility today notified the Florida Public Service Commission that its fuel costs for this year will exceed projections by 9 percent with no relief expected this year, and increased costs after that.

As a result, Tampa Electric said, the tab for a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month could jump from the current bill of $114.38 to about $140 starting in January.

Florida utilities are allowed to "pass through'' higher fuel costs to customers.