Last Wednesday, more than three dozen Quakertown residents came out to voice complaints to council about electricity rates that they believe are steadily increasing to unmanageable amounts.

        Borough Manager Scott McElree quickly explained that electricity rates in Quakertown have remained flat at $1.31 per kilowatt hour since 2010.

        Quakertown Borough has purchased power for wholesale distribution as a revenue source since 1969, generating its own prior to that. Council President James Roberts explained that the revenue offsets borough costs that would otherwise fall on taxpayers.

        "That is why we have the lowest tax rate in the county," Roberts said. 

        McElree added that Quakertown's electricity rate is comparable to both PECO and PPL.

        Still, residents in attendance, who had collaborated through Facebook, demanded answers from council as to why their bills remain high even with a decrease in usage.

        Tori Klinkert of E. Mill Street said that she has decreased usage in her home significantly and saw no decrease from her $300 per month electric bill.

        "We didn't even get to put up Christmas lights this year," Klinkert said. 

        Other residents said that their bills have increased even with cutbacks on usage.

        McElree suggested that an increase in costs, or a lack of a decrease with cutbacks, could signify an issue either with the meter or a specific appliance in a household. McElree suggested residents contact him to discuss their individual concerns.

        "I didn't have any time to research this prior to you all coming in tonight," McElree said, adding, "but I want to help."

        Residents countered, however, that calls to the borough for assistance often end up costing additional money as fees are attached to many of the services. Residents also questioned the $250 fee to reinstate power after a shut-off.

        McElree clarified that, if a meter is found to be faulty, no fee is charged. McElree added that the borough is just under halfway through a project to replace all mechanical meters with digital meters, which are more accurate.

        Before the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Lisa Gaier announced that the borough is willing to conduct free in-home energy audits for residents who are concerned about their electricity bill. According to Gaier, a similar offer was made several years ago. Although no residents took advantage of the audits at that time, Gaier suggested that could be because it was before the borough had an enhanced webpage for such announcements.

        "We want to be part of the solution," Gaier said.