LG&E Rate Hike

Announced today LG&E is seeking a 2% rate hike for equipment upgrades. Sounds like a reasonable request in better times.

Unfortunately these are not better times.

A 2% increase would amount to an average $16 per month. With the costs of energy skyrocketing, why now? If this was emergency funding needs by all means suck it up. But for non emergency funding it is just one more example of taking money from most who can ill afford it.

LG&E is the beneficiary of some major savings currently in the millions (think arena funding and moving their stuff for them) so why not take that long term savings and forget about a raise of rates for non emergencies for now?

With unemployment rising to 5.7% and as much as 9.9 % when you factor in underemployed we must start looking at how our money is utilized.

In this case the timing is incredibly stupid or incredibly bold. Do we matter?

The following is a link to the villevoice story on the "breaking news" by LG&E LG&E Tries to Shield Rate Hike, Cuts Deal with C-J. Good read about how secretive these type announcements really do get.

The following is an email from Paul Hosse blog writer of Another Opinion for your read:


July 4, 2008

Many of you know me as the editor and publisher of the conservative political blog, Another Opinion. However, I'm not writing you to discuss politics. I'm writing you because I'm tired of being “nickeled and dimed” to death, except we're no longer talking about nickels and dimes. We're talking about dollars, and lots of them. I know you understand what I'm talking about.

Gas prices have through the roof and show no sign of coming back down. It’s almost to the point where you can't afford to drive your car to work anymore. Food prices are skyrocketing, and even buying the generic stuff isn't helping that much anymore. We're worried about our jobs and whether or not we're even going to have one next week. When underemployment and those who have simply given up is factored in, America’s unemployment is a staggering 9.9%.

For Louisville residents, MSD rates continue to climb. Water rates have increased. Even the cost of garbage pick up is increasing. Our carrier, Eco-Tech is raising the price of garbage pick by $5.00 to cover the costs of their gas! Their customers are already paying $10.00 per billing cycle to cover the costs of their gas. Who pays your gas to go to work or run your business? That’s right, you do.

Now, LG&E wants to raise our rates 2% to cover non-emergency increases to update their equipment. A folk, a recession is not the time to buy new stuff. I can't and I'm sure many of you can't. Now 2% doesn't sound like much, but that’s another $16.00 coming out of your pocket for an non essential increase. Do you have an extra $16.00 to give away? I sure don't.
Here’s what I would like for you to do. Please call the Kentucky Public Service Commission at 1-800-772-4636 and ask them to deny LG&E’s rate request. It won't cost you a quarter (remember when it was a dime?) and tell them we just simply can't afford an increase at this time. You can also email them at psc.consumer.inquiry@ky.gov.

While you're at it, if you are a Eco-Tech customer or know someone who is (for that matter, if you just think it’s wrong), call Eco-Tech at 935-1130 and ask them to waive them additional $5.00 gas tax on their basic pickup service. Again, it cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.

Also, please pass this along to everyone you know; to every Kentucky blog site; and to every news service. By working together, we can hold back the raising rates and weather this recession together.

Sincerely
Paul Hosse' Editor/Publisher of Another Opinion http://hosse.blogspot.com/Louisville, Kentucky

I ask each of you to get involved and let your voices be heard.

Comments anyone?