National Grid rate-hike public hearings to begin Tuesday
7:44 AM Tue, Sep 08, 2009 | Permalink
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Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
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Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts By Paul Edward Parker State regulators will begin public hearings Tuesday on National Grid's request to raise its residential distribution rates 24 percent, which would result in an 11 percent increase in a typical electric bill. The Public Utilities Commission will hold six hearings over two weeks on the request by Narragansett Electric, one of the companies that makes up National Grid. Besides asking to raise the distribution rate from 3.376 cents per kilowatt-hour to 4.199 cents, the utility is seeking permission to double its monthly customer charge, from $2.75 to $5.50; increase its allowable profit level, from 10.5 percent to 11.6 percent, and to "decouple" its rates, which means changing the way bills are calculated so that Narragansett Electric does not have an incentive to encourage greater consumption of electricity. "This is a massive increase," said community activist Henry Shelton, coordinator of the George Wiley Center, a Pawtucket-based social and economic justice organization. "It's going to be devastating if the people get hit with another big increase." Shelton promised a large presence at the first PUC hearing, to be held at Pawtucket City Hall on Tuesday. "We're not going to take it lying down. Next Tuesday night ought to be the beginning of the revolution." The PUC will hold three hearings this week and three next week. All hearings begin at 6 p.m. They are scheduled for the following dates and places: * Sept. 8 at Pawtucket City Hall, 137 Roosevelt St. * Sept. 9 at Westerly Town Hall, 45 Broad St. * Sept. 10 at Woonsocket City Hall, 169 Main St. * Sept. 15 at Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Rd. * Sept. 16 at the Providence Public Safety Complex, 325 Washington St. * Sept. 17 at the PUC offices, 89 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. 
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ok national grid you win I'll shut off my OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR.
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Like the PUC is going to listen to anything the public says!! They haven't in the past, so why waste the time thinking they would. It is a sham. They are in bed with the utility companies.
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We have all had to tighten our belts. The economy is recovering. The social security recipients are getting no increase and their medical is going up. Taxes have gone up. Food prices are rising. Winter is coming and some don't know how they are going to provide heat for themselves. People are still unemployed. Those who are employed have taken wage cuts and freezes.Do you want a gloomier picture? I think it's time to say NO. The public utilities commission has okayed National Grid's every whim and fancy. Either the members don't pay utilities or they get a discount. If their profits are down, so is our spendable income. We are all making sacrifices. We are just trying to survive...that is what it has come to... Say no to any increases. We have had to stop spending. So does government and corporations. We are no longer the greatest country in the world. Opportunity is falling by the wayside and quality of life is diminishing. Why? Because government spending is way out of control. Cost of living is outrageous. Corporate profits reflect greed.Unscrupulous dealings by corporations and financial institutions. Taxed to death and it doesn't stop. This is not rocket science...just common sense!
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OK, they ask for 24% because they want 15% and the PUC gives them only 20%. What a scam on the public! During this tough economic time, everyone has to tighten their belt. Why not National Grid?
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When does it end with National Grid? People in RI have taken pay cuts, pay freezes, and unemployment. National Grid constantly asks to raise rates and they get it no matter what the public thinks. Winter is now coming, so oil and natural gas will be going up too! More people will be faced with the choice of paying for food and rent, or heat and electricity. Will the State and Utilities Commission be satisified when everyone lives in a cardboard box this winter?? Sickening.
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What else would you expect from state-sanctioned monopoly?
The state needs to lift all of the restrictions on citizens that disallow us from creating our own energy. That would include allowing us to place windmills on our homes above the current height restriction. Bonus: localized power generators do not experience energy loss during the distribution process, nor do they require an elaborate (and expensive) distribution infrastructure.
Power to the people!
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After the last rate hike that they got because of the rising cost of fuel, I haven't heard if they DROPPED their price when the fuel costs went back down. Now they are asking for more again.
Who is going to ask them what they did with the PROFITS they saw when the fuel prices dropped? Did they see any profits and why should their management be trusted if they can't manage that situation to help them control cost?
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I don't understand, where do they think we will get the money for the increase. Will only rich people have service, thats what it's coming to. We are both on unemployment, when that ends for the hundreds of thousands of Americans what will happen then. No money, no jobs and no pride, just desperation. More bank robberies, home invasions, more thievery,more murders, more neglected, hungry children. God help us, because some people won't have the choice to do the right thing, they will have to do anything to feed their family. Just look at the tent cities in every big city in every state. They really don't have a choice.....
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Why don't they go to thier own workers and ask for concessions like every other company and community has! These workers have averaged 4-6% wage increases over the last 5yrs!!! This is what happens with monopolies, no competition so bleed the rate payers dry and give it to thier unionized workforce!! It is high time the PUC looks into the compensation of the National Grid employee before increasing rates!!!!
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Why waste the time and energy on the hearings?? The PUC should just approve whatever NG wants, like they do every other time. What a joke !!
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If you think this is bad, wait until you see the resulting rate increases from the cap & trade bill.
p.s., I sell firewood
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National Grid is a Brittish-owned company that was allowed to purchase utility companies in RI years ago to create a monopoly. Since that time, they have increased rates dramatically and added fees that equal and even surpass the rates. I pay (among other fees)a "delivery fee" for my electricity and natural gas. The hearings are a joke and are usually held at times that working people cannot attend. The PUC does nothing to prevent price gouging or unreasonable increases. Please note that they NEVER lower rates or fees when the economy improves. We have a monopoly that controls all the natural gas and electricty in RI and there is nothing that we can do about it because our politicians are in on the scam. These people suck.
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I just read on Yahoo.com the other day that electricity prices are coming down? When is this gonna end?
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I heard energy prices were plummeting on CNN today. HUH? Then why are ours going up?????
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Natural Gas rates are at record lows - Nat Gas is used in electricity production.
Oil is also used - the price is up, but far from its high.
So why are they raising rates?? Loss of usage from the economy?
Do they realize RI has unemployment of 12+%? This is not the state to squeeze.
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What do we expect from a state-sanctioned monopoly! RI is bankrupt and its residents continue to bleed. Move out and you'll do better, trust me. I did.
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Who appoints the PUC members? How about a story on that, projo?
By the way, grocery stores have a 2% profit margin, CDs earn 2-3%, why the heck should a British company rake in 10-11% a year?????
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we need a third party that will fight for people of r.i ,its pretty bad when a british co , dominates or gas , and electric , we have a power plant in r.i fla in johnston , that sends power elsewhere , who are the members of puc and what stake do they have in this company , national grid is trying this very same thing in , sweden,and uk, among others check it out , then next time you go in voting booth remember this .
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