This is getting crazy everything is going up but peoples' salaries. Everyone needs electricity,oil,gas, water and so on, so these utility and oil companies have everyone by the you know what. Something has to be done.

Oh, sure, blame the fuel prices, they were making money long before the fuel prices went up! They should not be granted that great of an increase, by any means, how are people in this current state of economics going to support every utility company at this rate? I think this is terrible, and wish someone would smarten up, and put this to a halt. I think greed is a common factor in this request...mark my words...

I am on a fixed income (disability) electric, propane, gas, food,water. the list is pretty endless and GUESS what my disability has not gone up. And I am sure when I get my increase in Jan it will not begin to cover my expenses. As far as the Electric is concerned, all this is gonna do is make billions more for the FOREIGN comapny that owns National Grid and they have a monopoly over us thanks to the PUC and the idiots on smith hill.

Glad that I sold my home, retired and moved from Rhode Island.

Capitalism obviously isn't working. It is time to nationalize the electric and gas monopolies and the oil companies. That's the only way senior citizens like me are going to survive on fixed incomes.

I THINK EVERYONE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION & NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THIS MADNESS. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING--THE POOR ARE GETTING POORER & THERE'S NO MORE MIDDLE CLASS. THE RICH PEOPLE AREN'T EFFECTED, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING THEIR BILLS TO SURVIVE. I BET THE TOP PEOPLE AT NATIONAL GRID GET SALARY INCREASES.
ITS ALSO A JOKE THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT IN A REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE-----THEY ALWAYS GET IT APPROVED.

A reality check that is unfortunately, permanent. Gas prices will never retreat to where they once were and whatever retreat, if any will be offset by the increase in the type of energy you currently use to heat your home. It's never going to be the same!
The bottom line is that we're responsible for all of this by trusting our elected legislators to do the right thing. I believe this will change shortly for this laizzer-faire attitude that the majority have had will diminish as soon as it knocks on enough doors. For sure when it knocks on your door. I hope! It's not government we have to look too to make the right decisions. It us!
The hope for clean energy is a worthwhile goal but, the reality of it all is that it won't happen for quite some time to come. There will be to many cold days and night between now and then.
Immediate relief is available. We have oil and the know how for nuclear. If in your heart you cannot see clear to support such a remedy, be sure to do whatever you do early enough in the day so that you'll have ample time to finish whatever chore you've taken on as the wailing of the unfortunate, will be distracting as it creeps closer and closer to your home. It won't be about them anymore, it will be a bit more personal. Does it really have to be personal and about you before taking action?

I received a great email the other day, illustrating for me the true impact to the suggested drilling area in the area referred to as ANWAR. If only the mainstream media, t.v. and print would provide the true impact and not an implied disaster one they seem to champion and for what reason, I don't know, our collective attitude would be different. The true impact is know. We're experiencing it now!
Did you know this ANWR area is in a barren area and not to far from Prudo Bay where oil is being extracted and has been for quite some time? Words are great but the pictures I have been exposed too are even greater. They tell the story unbiased. Google ANWR. You may get a true picture of it all.

Of course something has to be done! Go to Google and type "alternative energy" and see what you get. The technology is THERE it just isn't profitable and we all know that's what it comes down to. All of a sudden electric cars are a hit when five years ago people were weirdo lefts who drove one. Everyone is so afraid of something different but we'll be singing a different tune when we're paying up the wazoo for electricity.
We can't tap into a FINITE resource forever. It's just common sense!
I can just guarantee you that soon some big company will come out and say, "oh look what WE'VE discovered!" (and it'll probably be something Tesla invented 100 years ago or something haha) and we will unanimously say "Oh! Finally!" And then they can charge whatever they want and they know we'll pay it. I bet you these companies are waiting for their moment - when all Americans need them, and more importantly, want them.

21.7% increase> How many families will have the electric and gas shut off before winter ever gets here? I haven't had a raise in three years, don't expect to see one now. Work full time in spite of having chronic health issues, wonder how long I can work at all when I start with a second job.

I just can not afford it. I did not get a raise at all this year, not even a cost of living increase. No more newspapers for me and telephone is next to go. Corparate greed has stolen my American dream.
More and more good people will turn to crime to make ends meet. We can all watch the crime rates go up with the utility rates while your elected officials(puppets for big business) do nothing to stop the madness.
Happy 4th of July, let me know when the next revolution starts.
BB

I just picked up my prescription at Stop and Shop......two weeks late.....because I couldn't afford it when I was suppossed to have it.....It was either the med.....or gas to get to work....And now National Grid wants us to dig deeper....
Well....my pocket has a hole in it.....I have no where else to reach to......

In reference to the comment by Marsha: Do you, or for that matter, anyone, realize that we , the U.S.A., do not get even ONE DROP of oil from Alaska? That it ALL gets shipped to Japan and Korea? WAKE UP! all we have to do is BUILD REFINERIES IN THE NORTHWEST! Wyoming also has oil underground. Why are there NO oil wells being drilled there? The residents there would welcome them, from what I hear. Only the poor and "middle" class are being hurt by this oil/energy rip off and the wealthy could care less. Put a stop to those "speculaters" who are driving the cost of oil up for no reason other than GREED. Our "Government", "Of the People, for the People" isd a joke. One that I personally do not find funny.