While Helco plans to request an overall 10 percent rate increase, the utility said most residential consumers would actually see smaller increases of 3 percent to 7 percent under a tiered rate structure the company hopes to implement.

The new rate structure Helco will propose would divide power consumption into tiers. Consumers who use the least power and stay within the lowest tier would pay the lowest rates. Consumers who use more and move up to a higher tier would pay higher rates for the extra power.

Big Island consumers currently pay higher electric rates than consumers on Oahu and Maui, but pay lower rates than consumers on Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaua'i.

Helco today filed a notice of intent with the state Public Utilities Commission that the company will seek the higher rates for residential, industrial and commercial users to recoup more than $300 million the utility spent on two new generators and other improvements to its Big Island power grid.