THOMASVILLE — A new electric rate structure for Thomasville Utilities customers will not increase customers’ bills or bring in more money, Thomasville City Council members were told Monday.

The rate restructuring will increase the months that residential and business customers pay summer rates, but will reduce the price spike for electricity use in the summer, Natalie Connell, the city of Thomasville’s public information officer, said Tuesday.

The council could give final approval to the change in April, and the rate change would take effect in May, which would be the first month summer rates would apply. The summer rates would extend into October.

“A customer will pay no more or less than they currently pay,” Connell said. “In order to be certain, they took the 2006 and 2007 electricity bills for all customers and put it through a model to make sure there would be no difference.”

The Municipal Electric Association of Georgia recommended the change after conducting a study, Connell said. One reason given for the rate restructuring was to reduce the drastic increase in electric costs in summer.

Customers bills “will still typically be higher in the summer, but they won’t see the same peaks as they had in the past,” Connell said.

In other business Monday, the council disposed of cases against the alcohol license holders at five establishments in Thomasville where alcohol was sold last year to underage purchasers.

Applebees, Old Mexico, Rose Bowl Lanes and Ruby Tuesday each agreed to pay $500 fines after a first offense.

Oriental Buffet will forfeit its license for 30 days rather than pay the fine.

The businesses provided proof of employee training programs prior to the meeting.

Reporter Alan Mauldin can be reached by calling (229) 226-2400, ext. 226.