Power rates in Nelson will go up a bit more next year but a bit less in 2019.

That’s because Nelson Hydro plans to smooth its increases.

General manager Alex Love says they can do that because 2017 was a strong freshet year.

It allowed them to produce more energy than normal.

Love also says a proposed rate freeze for BC Hydro will only have a small impact on Nelson Hydro rates.

Rates are expected to go up 2.25 per cent in April and a little over three per cent in 2019.