POWER BILLS FOR SOME TRI CITIES CUSTOMERS WILL BE GOING UP BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. BECAUSE OF TVA’S RECENTLY APPROVED RATE HIKE, CUSTOMERS OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA UTILITY CAN EXPECT TO SEE A LARGER POWER BILL. HOWEVER, IT WON’T BE AS HIGH AS SOME OTHERS IN THE REGION. BVU OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL PASS ALONG AN AVERAGE 15 AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE. BUT THAT’S LOWER THAN THE 20 PERCENT RATE HIKE APPROVED BY TVA. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THE AVERAGE BVU CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT THEIR BILL TO INCREASE ABOUT 18 DOLLARS NEXT MONTH.