NORTH ATTLEBORO - Residential and commercial customers aren't the only ones smarting from a 23 percent increase in North Attleboro Electric rates. Now, the town is searching for money to pay its rising electric bill.

Town Administrator Mark Fisher said he is awaiting information from North Attleboro Electric, which will help determine the impact of higher electricity costs on the town budget.

But if the town's monthly electric bill increases by the anticipated 23 percent, it will add up to an extra $215,000 in power costs this fiscal year, he said.

That figure only takes into account electricity for the town side of government - and does not include the impact on the school department or the water and sewer departments, which have enterprise accounts that are funded through rates.

"Once I have all the information, I'll work on quantifying how much we're talking about. There is no way of dealing with it until the fall town meeting," Fisher said. Although it is too early to tell how the town will pay the increased costs, Fisher said the likely options are appropriating more money for the utility account or making cuts in other areas to fund the increase.

North Attleboro Electric announced Monday that it would raise its purchased power adjustment surcharge, a temporary and adjustable charge to cover the cost of fuel used to produce and deliver electricity.

The surcharge will increase from about 2.8 cents to 6.1 cents, which will result in customer bills increasing by about 23 percent.

Fisher said he will talk to town department heads once the figures become firm - focusing both on the impact on the budget and possible conservation measures.

The town has already implemented several conservation measures as a result of a energy task force that Fisher started about two years ago.

Compounding the difficulty of dealing with the utility budget is the fact that electricity isn't the only expense that is on the rise, Fisher said.

"It isn't just electricity. The rise in gasoline, natural gas costs and fuel oil has been phenomenal," he said.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.