Life Of Jason

Well, after getting a really outrageous gas bill for last month, I find out that CU is going to try and raise my bill even higher. This afternoon, the board of City Utilities approved a 4.1% increase in the base rate for gas customers. It now goes to City Council so if you don’t want to see your rates go even higher you need to let your Council member know we don’t want a raise in our rates.

Personally, I find it rather insulting when it was stated that we’re going to pay higher prices because customers have used less gas. The rates are already so high that people are scraping along just to keep their gas usage down and now they’re going to drive them higher making it even more of an incentive to use less gas. I guess I’ll have to keep my house at 50 degrees next winter instead of 55 just to offset the increase (should Council rubber stamp the increase.)

Here’s the recap of today’s meeting:

Today the Board of Public Utilities approved the following resolutions:

• Expenditure Guidelines Policy:
Establishes guidelines and processes for expenditures within public purposes. To include civic and professional organizations, utility organizations, and other areas that could benefit the operation of the utility.

• Extension Policy Modification:
City Utilities will reimburse developers as applicable on an as-built quantity and not make partial payments. Developer must provide a Bill of Sale, Affidavit, and Cost Summary prior to reimbursement.

• Natural Gas Rate Increase:
An increase of 4.1 percent increase on the base rate of service for natural gas customers. Proposed increase is recommended to cover additional operational and maintenance expenses on natural gas system. This resolution will now move to Springfield City Council for consideration.

Additionally, the Board of Public Utilities was advised of the following:

• Electric Fuel Adjustment Factor (March 2008 – September 2008):
Aligns rates with actual fuel costs. The average residential electric bill will see a $4.40 increase during the above period in comparison to the same period last year.

Water Supply and Distribution:

• Water storage levels are at 100 percent. The historical average is 86.4 percent. This is the highest storage level since 2005 and only the fourth time in 12 years for 100 percent storage.

Storm Damage Claims:

• Fellows Lake spillway was damaged during the storms that occurred the week of March 17. Restoration is estimated at $500,000. Greene County Emergency Management and FEMA will tour the damage next week.