GET READY for higher electricity bills.

It takes natural gas and coal to make electricity – both resources that have seen dramatic price increases over the past year. As a result, electricity prices are expected to increase 6.2% this year and another 9.4% in 2009, according to the Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook. The East Coast will see some of the highest price hikes. While there's nothing consumers can do to stop the utility companies from raising rates, there are ways to keep the electricity bill under control.