Proposal to raise natural gas charges draws ire
6:41 PM Mon, Sep 08, 2008 | Permalink
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By Timothy C. Barmann WARWICK -- National Grid's proposal to raise its natural gas distribution charges was assailed at a public hearing by several speakers who said the increases would lessen a customer's ability to lower their gas bill by conserving energy. The utility company has proposed raising distribution rates for its 247,000 customers in Rhode Island, which would result in the overall bill going up by about 5 percent. The company said it needs the rate increase, in part, in order to speed up replacement of aging natural gas mains and pipes. It would be the first increase in distribution rates in 10 years, National Grid has said. More than a dozen people spoke at the hearing, conducted by the Public Utilities Commission. The PUC plans several more days of proceedings in which attorneys for the company explain and defend the proposals. The PUC has until Nov. 1 to reject or accept the proposal. One part of the company's plan that came under criticism today is a proposal to increase the customer charge from $9 a month to $16 a month. That charge remains the same from month to month, regardless of a customer's usage. Jann Campbell, a Cranston resident, said that raising the monthly customer charge makes it harder for a customer to save money by cutting back on their gas usage. That was echoed by another speaker, Steve Kapalka. "I don't understand when we're asked to use less gas, less electricity, and then our bills go up," he said. Kapalka was also critical of another company proposal that would require customers to pay for a marketing program designed to persuade customers to switch from oil to gas for heating. "I don't understand why I have to pay for National Grid to get customers from the oil companies," he said. "It's like their stealing customers. My rates go up ... It just doesn't seem right." Savino Salerno, 90, of Pawtucket, began a verbal thrashing of the PUC and National Grid from the moment he stepped up to the two-foot high oak wall that separates the audience from the commission and attorneys. The wall, he suggested, is belittling. "I feel like I'm talking to a judge because of the charges or something," he began. He complained of the expenses National Grid lists in its rate hike proposal. "They have little ways of nickel and diming us," he said. "They are absolutely against us. Where is our representation?" PUC Chairman Elia Germani interrupted, and told Salerno that Paul Roberti, an assistant attorney general sitting at one of the tables, represented ratepayers on behalf of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Roberti tried to address Salerno. "We do our best to keep rates low," Roberti said. Salerno cut him off. "Do better," he said. Sandra Morra of Cranston, who referred to the utility company as "National Greed," questioned why the elderly, handicapped people, single parents and struggling families are being asked to pay for National Grid's marketing program promoting conversions to natural gas. "I ask the Public Utilities Commission to say no to National Grid, not to be afraid. Please, in your deliberations, when you speak of ratepayers, remember the elderly, the handicapped, families of soldiers in Iraq, people losing their homes." Among the proposals that Jean Gambardella spoke against was a plan by National Grid to create a low-income discount of 10 percent off distribution rates. The company said the plan would cost ratepayers about $800,000 a year. "We regular rate payers are sick and tired of being told we are donating to a cause," said Gambardella of Warwick. "We are being hurt in these difficult times too. We suffer in silence ... because we're aware that it seems it's quite futile to speak up." 
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So exactly what has National Grid been doing with all the money they've collected for distribution charges over the past few years?
Isn't that why they collect the charges?
And we shouldn't be paying for their marketing programs, nor should we pay because we use less energy.
I know of National Grid's reputation in the UK which curiously has disappeared from the web. Nice clean up job you've done there National Grid but I have a long memory.
They are essentially a British version of Enron.
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We kept our heat at 55 last year because of the rising fuel rates, and now this company shrugs and wants to extract more money from our pockets, for nothing. Why? Because they can.
The government should no longer allow this monopoly to operate. The supposed reason for the operation of monopolies is so that the public may benefit from the economies of scale achieved by a single provider. If National Grid is unable to run its business in a profitable manner without resorting to price gouging, then it is our government's responsibility to revoke its charter.
By the way, I looked up "national greed" on google.com, and it came back with:
Did you mean: 'national grid"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22national+greed%22&aq=f&oq=
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