Christmas lights. After midnight, electricity rates shoot up by 2.75 percent.

From January 1, the Bermuda Electric Light Company has announced it will be increasing its rates.

In the New Year, private residences will pay a basic rate of $5.55 per kilowatt per hour -- 15 cents more than in 1994.

After that, the first 50 kw hours will cost $21.23, the next 100 kw hours $19.58, the next 250 hours $19.20 and the remaining hours $19.85.

Commercial services with a service capacity of more than 10 kilowatts will pay a basic rate of $7.77 compared with $7.56 in 1994.

The hike was approved in December 1993 by the Price Control Commission following a public hearing.