Us West Seeks Hike In Phone Rates

US West asked Friday to nearly double its rates for basic phone service, the state Utilities and Transportation Commission said.

Basic monthly phone rates for US West’s 2.1 million customers in Washington now range from $9 to $14 a month, commission spokeswoman Marilyn Meehan said. US West proposes raising the rates to $24 to $26 a month.

The increase would be the first general rate rise since 1983, Meehan said.

US West spokesman Harry Grandstrom said the increase is necessary because many of the company’s prices have become outdated, and because of increased expenses.

He said the average Washington residential customer pays a total phone bill of about $57 a month. The average increase from that base will be about 10 percent the first year and a total of 5.5 percent over four years, Grandstrom said.

Tim Sweeney, an analyst with the commission, said people who use long distance a lot will benefit, but those with the lowest phone bills, and those who use long-distance sparingly, will see the biggest percentage increase in their bills.

The company also proposes to reduce the cost of long distance service by about 20 percent over a two-year period to partly offset the basic rate increases.