Residents who use less power will get a break on their electricity bill under a proposal by Belco that has been approved by the Energy Commission.

The power company will replace its existing fixed monthly residential charge with a graduated fee structure, according to Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith.

The new charges, which go into effect next month, will see 44 percent of customers paying less for power.

For 28 percent of customers there will be no change, while the 28 percent high-consumption customers will see their bills increase “slightly” due to a higher facilities charge.

The total monthly bill will be dependent on energy consumption. Currently, users pay a fixed $33 per month regardless of how much power they consume.

Customers who use the least electricity, from zero to ten kilowatts per hour, should see a 21.1 percent drop in their charge, which will affect 26 percent of Belco’s users.