By Special to the Town Crier

Summer travelers may find it’s not only the high price of gasoline that affects the cost of their vacation. The American Automobile Association (AAA) of Northern California said several hotels and motels in the western United States are now instituting “electricity surcharges” for their guests.

Fees can range from $1.50 to $3.50 per night per room, according to Atle Erlingsson of the corporate communications office of the California State Automobile Association headquarters in San Francisco.

“Unfortunately, not all lodgings are telling their guests beforehand,” Erlingsson said. “Unsuspecting travelers are left in the dark until they see the bill at checkout.”

Currently, neither state nor federal guidelines govern the amount lodgings can impose as electricity surcharges, Erlingsson said. Most hotel corporations say the surcharge is only temporary and will be eliminated once the cost of electricity declines. Gas and electricity make up about 10 percent of a hotel’s operating budget, he added.

AAA of Northern California strongly advises travelers to ask about extra fees before making a hotel or motel reservation. The association also suggested vacationers do their part to conserve energy by reusing towels and turning off all lights and appliances before leaving their room.