By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - At the Niles City Council meeting Monday the council approved a 6.4 percent increase in the electric rates for city residents, which will become effective May, 1.
Eull added that in order to get the department operating in the black the increase needed to happen, and that the average residential ratepayer would pay an additional $2.75 per month.
Eull added that the electricity rates need to be increase due to budget shortfalls and because the purchase-power agreement the city has with American Electric Power expires next year.