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HANNIBAL, MO -- Several viewers have contacted KHQA with concerns over their electric bills from the Hannibal Board of Public Works.

You might remember the city was forced to raise its rates by 38 percent in 2009 when Ameren raised its utility prices.

Since then many residents have contacted us concerned the Board of Public Works began the increase too early, into the month of December.

We separated fact from fiction for this KHQA FactFinder report.

KHQA talked with Don Willis, the General Manager of the Hannibal Board of Public Works.

His office received more than three hundred calls from concerned utility customers.  Willis says what customers might not understand is the increase took effect during the first billing cycle of the year...not at the first of the year.

Since Public Works sends out bills during the second, third and fourth weeks of the month, most people's first bill of the year includes some days and/or weeks in December of 2008.

Don Willis, General Manager of the Hannibal Board of Public Works said, "This is proper procedure, a normal procedure for what we do when we have rate increases. They're always set for the first of the month. During the billing cycle whatever rate was in effect for the first of the month is what we use during the billing cycle."

The issue is on the agenda for the Hannibal Board of Public Works board to discuss at its February meeting.

They will review the matter February 18th.