Is Progress Energy's rate hike justified? Face it: Power company wins, you lose

[bananas]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-maxwell0109feb01,0,3971249.column

Is Progress Energy's rate hike justified? Face it: Power company wins, you lose

Scott Maxwell | TAKING NAMES
February 1, 2009

Ticked off at the size of your latest power bill?

You have a right to be.

Progress Energy and its apologists may try to con you into thinking this 25 percent rate hike is the inevitable cost of diversifying energy sources and higher fuel costs.

They're wrong on both counts.

First of all, since state officials approved their rate increase last fall, many fuel costs have gone down. If Progress is paying less, so should customers. Considering the economy, that needs to be fixed sooner, rather than later.

But the other part of the increase -- the one designed to make you pay for nuclear energy that might be ready 10 years from now -- is the part that's so objectionable, it has watchdogs from both parties crying foul.

<snip>

[msongs]

1. Public Utility Commissions = prostitutes for power companies

rates need to be based on actual costs.

btw, how much does that company spend on advertising and promotion? It should slash those costs before even asking for a rate increase.

Msongs

[kristopher]

2. Your legislature writes the rules for the PUC. It's YOUR fault for having those

right wing nuts in the legislature.