We have only 4, so we pay for our land at the residential rate.

They also say that their industrial and commercial customers are paying more than the true cost of serving them, in effect subsidizing residential rates.

When the change in regulation took effect in June, residential long-distance rates dropped $97 million.

During that time, our residential electric rates doubled and industrial rates went up by 133 percent.

In 1997, the residential rate was $17.45 and the commercial was $38.94.

By comparison, the national average residential rate is 8 cents per kilowatt hour, 267% more.

That combination, administration officials say, should lower residential rates 10 percent or more.

Its residential electric rates are the fifth-highest in the nation.

The plan to increase conservation was one of several proposals the Democrats made to address the state's electric power situation, including lowering residential rates.

The plan, which the commission's staff negotiated with Nynex, would slightly lower and then freeze residential rates for up to seven years.