If you are an Atlantic City Electric customer you probably received a recent communication concerning changes in your electricity bill. In the communication ACE says that there will be three changes to monthly bills beginning June 1.

The first change, and by far the most significant, will be electricity supply rate increases. ACE notes that this is a pass-through expense for the cost of electricity that ACE purchases on your behalf. This is the rate increase that everyone has been talking about recently, one in which higher demand for electricity in our region clashes with lagging available supply, driving up prices.

ACE says that the average home in the region uses 643 kilowatts of electricity, and that such a home would see a $23 increase in supply costs. Be sure to look at your bill and see your usage. If it is higher than 643 kilowatts, you will pay more.

The expense for electricity supply will vary with usage. A home that uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours will see a $39 increase, and one that uses 1,500 kilowatt-hours will find an extra $62 on the bill.

The second change is a $5 addition to the distribution charge. This represents the increase from winter to summer rates and is in addition to the higher cost of supply. This increase is not a pass-through; the funds will go directly to ACE as part of the utility’s distribution charge.

This increase also is not the 8% increase in distribution rates that ACE has requested from the state Board of Public Utilities. That increase has not yet been approved or denied by the BPU and is scheduled for a decision sometime in August.

The last of the three items mentioned in the ACE customer communication is a $2 decrease in surcharges due to the elimination of something called the Zero Emission Charge.

Add the three together and the average customer with 643 kilowatt-hours of use will pay an extra $26 a month. Customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours will see a $47 increase; those using 1,500 will pay $80 more per month.

If you have a price plan with an electricity supplier other than ACE, supply costs would vary depending on your agreement and your usage.

The communication adds that ACE is committed to helping customers better understand their bill, have the tools to manage their energy use and have access to assistance programs if needed.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.