In a summertime tradition as entrenched as fireworks, watermelon and melting ice cream, power bills have escalated in Alexander City but officials said it’s not because of anything the city has done.

The municipal government, which supplies electricity to about 4,000 residential customers through the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, has not increased its residential electric rates since 2007, according to city clerk Amanda Thomas. The city hired Stewart Engineering to set the rate structure in 2006 and any increase would have to be approved by the city council.