Electricity customers will pay a higher fuel variation charge in June after the Antigua Public Utilities Authority increased the rate from 70 cents to 80 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The new rate represents a 10-cent increase over May and follows rates of 55 cents per kilowatt-hour in both March and April, according to figures released by APUA.

APUA said the fuel variation rate reflects the international market cost of fuel used to generate electricity and is influenced by global fuel prices.

The utility encouraged customers to monitor their energy consumption and adopt energy-efficient practices at home and in the workplace to help manage electricity bills.

The fuel variation charge is a component of customers’ electricity bills and fluctuates based on fuel costs associated with power generation.