Electricity rates are going up in one Harlan County town.
Benham officials say they have no choice, the city has to raise rates.
"We have to raise rates in order to be able to have the money to pay K.U., our employees, and pay the rest of the bills, plus have money on hand in case of an emergency," Mayor John Dodd said.
At a public hearing Thursday, the city announced the increase is necessary because it is losing money.
Right now, Benham is paying Kentucky Utilities a rate of $9.36 for electricity, but only charging customers $7.85.
"That would be like a guy at a gas station selling gas at $3 a gallon and paying $4 a gallon for it," Dodd said.
Mayor Dodd says the city is losing $4000 a month.
Officials also say some people in Benham are simply not paying their bills.
"That's one of the problems, if you can't pay your bill, then we can't pay ours," power board member Dave Halcomb said.
The city announced on Wednesday that beginning on September 3, it will be turning off the lights if people don't pay.
"We didn't want to do this, but now we've got no choice," Halcomb said.
The city has not determined yet how high the electric rates will go.
City officials hope to have a decision about a rate increase by the end of next week.