Double-digit increases have become the norm for Citizens Energy customers. I love how our local news media reports on these rate increases with a happy face, presumably because the utility pays a bunch of money to them for feel-good advertising. Average water rates will jump $5 a month, or 20%, to $30. The utility claims the money is needed for $100 million in infrastructure improvements. But remember, you're getting all sorts of cost savings after Citizens Energy bought the water utility from the City for an inflated price to fund Ballard's sidewalks for votes scam. And of course the City bought the utility for an inflated prices from NiSource. But, hey, it's a public benefit utility so cheer up.
That's not the half of it. There's still that gigantic rate increase for sewage fees hanging over our heads. Another 31% hike in sewer bills is looming that will hike the average monthly bills from $35 to $47 next year. Mayor Joe Hogsett plans to hold a press conference with Citizens Energy officials to announce plans for completing that big dig project that has enriched the usual cast of pay-to-play contractors who make six-figure campaign contributions to politicians like Hogsett. They'll put lipstick on that pig and the media will spew it all back to us verbatim without any critical analysis. This is what happens when you have a state utility regulator run by nothing but political hacks who don't give a damn about the public they're supposed to represent and who allow these thieves to rob us blind.
No comments:
Post a Comment