Electric companies across the state, including Lehighton, could be in line for a substantial price increase.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire told borough council on Monday that NextEra handles the borough’s purchase power agreement with American Municipal Power out of Columbus, Ohio, where its electricity is sourced.

He said last month, multiple municipalities across the state who supply their own power met in Kutztown to go over the December capacity purchase.

DeWire said NextEra presented numbers that suggest a 20% increase across the board for all electric companies across the state.

NextEra, he said, is planning to address the spike in costs by trading two years of lower rates in exchange for a three-year extension to their contract.

The contract was originally supposed to terminate in 2032, DeWire said.

After two years of lower rates, he said the hope is to take that additional net revenue and subsidize electricity rate spikes in the near future.

DeWire said the borough will be presented with a contract tailored specifically for the borough in the next few weeks.

He said it will then be presented to council for discussion and possible acceptance at either its November or December meeting.

The borough has owned and operated its own electric system since 1943.

The borough is responsible for the distribution system and utility billing.