Rising utility bills

Please be wise and save your economic stimulus check to pay for your summer electric bills. My family has worked hard to reduce our use of electricity and lessen our carbon footprint, and we have been successful.

Last year, our April usage was 1304 kilowatt-hours; this year it was 1012 kwh — a reduction of nearly 10 kwh per day or, in other words, a 23 percent reduction in usage. Imagine my surprise when the amount due on this year’s April bill was $94.09, and the April 2007 bill was $95.73. My family has used 23 percent less electricity, yet our bill was reduced by only $1.64.

The Missouri Public Service Commission claims that what amounts to more than a 20 percent rate increase is supposed to cover increasing costs of acquiring electricity. However, I can’t help but feel it is mostly used to cover Aquila’s payouts to the Green brothers, bad investments and legal fees for building an illegal power plant in Cass County.

Mandy Quinn
Lee’s Summit

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Hanson you hit the nail on the head! People seem to think they should pay what THEY think the price of widgets are nt what the market demands. MOst of the folls do not understand regulated industries and the challenges they face. People fail to realize these power plants have had to meet a emissions mandate and have it in place by 2010. Many are required to install scrubbers and baghouses. Then they have the normal outageous they have to have, boiler repair, steamheader replacement, etc. and of course this is all supposed to be free.

[T. Hanson]

Here is something for the Mandy’s of the world to think about. For example, it now cost $4.11 for diesel fuel, which powers trains that takes the coal to the plants that burn the coal to make the power. Ignoring all other costs of running a power plant and just focusing on the basic need to deliver the coal you can see that there has been an increase in transportation cost. How else does the power company recoup this cost?

Now of you add in all the other reasons for an addition of your bill (new plants, maybe a cost of living allowance for the workers, fuel to power the repair trucks). I can see why the cost of our bills go up. Not happy about it, but it has to happen.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

The problem Mandy is you "feel" rather than think. Electricity is a regulated utility meanging thet are NOT at liberty to simply increase their prices without approval. Funny how so many are perfectly fine with taxes increasing yet less services and bang for your buck from unaccountable government.
Our property taxes have double in 5 years, yet the schools are always needing more money for things that are or should be paid for with our tax levies. Persocally I think the intire energy sector should close down shop for 30 days and let the public feel some pain. People have no problem with frivilous spending on entertainment but then complain about gas and utilities. Ask yourself? How much do you spend on luxury and want versus need.