Comcast will hike rates Aug. 1

Most Comcast cable television customers will see an increase in most rates and services on Aug. 1.

The Standard Cable and Digital Starter prices will increase by 5.7 percent while the Total Premium Package will rise to $136.90, a 2.6 percentage increase.

The Value Plus Triple Play price, which includes Digital Starter, Performance High Speed Internet Service and CDV, will increase by 4.3 percent to $119.99. Expanded Basic Service, a popular package, will rise 6.8 percent to $ 55.05.

Comcast released the following statement: “We’ve continually invested in next-generation technology to support new product features, more programming choices and improvements to customer service. These investments make it possible to deliver continued innovations such as more HD and On Demand choices, converged services, faster Internet speeds, multi-platform content and new services consumers want and value.”

Although prices for premium services like HBO and Showtime as well as most installation and equipment rental charges will remain the same, Comcast stated that bills will increase by an average of 3.5 percent. Comcast did not comment when their new prices would be released to the public. Most rates increased between 2.6 and 6.8 percent.Comcast provides service in the northern portions of Luzerne County, including some West Side communities, the Back Mountain and the Pittston area. The company declined to say how many subscribers it serves.

The county’s other large cable provider, Service Electric, will not increase rates this year.

“We’ve managed to freeze rates this year,” said Larry Shewack, general manager. “Typically, program rates have a lot to do with the economy among other things.”

Service Electric serves more than 20,000 households in Wilkes-Barre, Mountain Top, Ashley, Hanover Township, Bear Creek and the Hazleton area.

Shewack said the Comcast and Service Electric prices were usually similar. However, because of Comcast’s increased prices, the Service Electric Triple play, which offers 1 megabyte Internet, standard television, and phone service, is now almost $ 40 less.

Service Electric prices for extras such as channels like Stars, HBO, and Cinemax also remain the same.

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