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Home Energy Price Increase

By Solar energy | September 19, 2008

Home Energy Price Increases

My home utility bill came in January 2008, with a friendly little note saying that my power cooperative was,

“…ringing in the new year in 2008 by reducing rates…by $0.0015 per kilowatt-hour beginning with bills rendered after January 1.”

Nice!

In May, my energy bill came with a little note attached from the utility cooperative. The attachment informed me that my power provider had increased rates,

“…because of increases in wholesale power costs, bills for all rate classes reflect an increase of $0.01098 per kilowatt-hour.”

What happened to the ringing in the New Year?

My July home utility bill came with another note attached advising me of a rate increase. This time it read,

“…increased their fuel charge due to rising natural gas prices. To recover this increase in the cost of power we distribute to members, we have increased rates for residential and most other rate classes by $0.0106 per kilowatt-hour.”

I know you’re home energy bill is up too. Some places experience greater increases than 21%.

But here’s the point.

When the cost of doing business increases for the energy companies, they pass that increased expense on to us, the customers. “To recover this increase in the cost of power we distribute to members, we have increased rates…”

Now, Mr. Obama wants to tax big oil company profits. The best I can ascertain in the murky political waters is that this tax will be used to give Americans a refund of $500 or $1000 (depending on marital status) to help with our fuel costs.

I like rebates as well as the next person. And I think big oil companies should be doing their part to bring relief in the current energy crisis.

But think about this just a second.

If big oil companies get hit with a huge tax, who do you think they will pass that expense on to?

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Topics: home energy audit, home energy bills, Home Energy Use, Renewable Energy Politics | No Comments »

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