DTE approves two utilities’ rate hikes, rejects one

BOSTON — The Department of Telecommunications and Energy unanimously approved rate increases of between 10 and 14 percent for “standard offer” customers of NStar Electric and Fitchburg Gas & Electric. But the DTE commissioners also unanimously rejected Massachusetts Electric’s request for a 15.1 percent or 1.46 cents per kilowatt–hour increase for its 1.2 million customers. The approved rate increases mean increases of 1.321 cents per kilowatt-hour for NStar and Fitchburg customers. A Massachusetts Electric spokesperson said the company would file for a 1.321 cents per kilowatt hour or just under 14 percent increase as soon as possible for its standard offer customers who make up between 70 and 80 percent of all its customers, including Nantucket Electric and the former Eastern Edison, now included in Mass. Electric.