Utility Blackmail and More
"If you don't give us rate increases, there might be rolling blackouts!"
Such is the message ComEd and other utility boards are threatening consumers with. Such is what happens when you get government meddling in what ought to be free markets. ComEd only controls power transmission lines and seems to be out of the power generating business.
We're a bit rusty on our history lessons, but didn't Rockefeller create the Standard Oil monopoly by controlling all the refineries? His company didn't produce much in the way of actual oil, but if you didn't go through his refineries, you didn't sell squat. That monopoly was broken up as it kind of cramped free trade.
ComEd owning most (if not all) of the power lines in a certain vicinity and charging rates that could be viewed as out of line with comparable rates nationwide ought to be raising red flags. Can anyone enlighten us?
And how about those County tax increases? Property taxes up 36%? Keep voting democratic people - the Toddler hasn't even been inaugurated yet and his party is already going to try to tax their way out of a budget hundreds of millions of dollars in the hole. Shouldn't we be looking at disbanding County government? It's an anachronism that's costing us billions and only employs political hacks who couldn't get jobs on the up and up.
Such is the message ComEd and other utility boards are threatening consumers with. Such is what happens when you get government meddling in what ought to be free markets. ComEd only controls power transmission lines and seems to be out of the power generating business.
We're a bit rusty on our history lessons, but didn't Rockefeller create the Standard Oil monopoly by controlling all the refineries? His company didn't produce much in the way of actual oil, but if you didn't go through his refineries, you didn't sell squat. That monopoly was broken up as it kind of cramped free trade.
ComEd owning most (if not all) of the power lines in a certain vicinity and charging rates that could be viewed as out of line with comparable rates nationwide ought to be raising red flags. Can anyone enlighten us?
And how about those County tax increases? Property taxes up 36%? Keep voting democratic people - the Toddler hasn't even been inaugurated yet and his party is already going to try to tax their way out of a budget hundreds of millions of dollars in the hole. Shouldn't we be looking at disbanding County government? It's an anachronism that's costing us billions and only employs political hacks who couldn't get jobs on the up and up.
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
11 Comments:
why shouldnt the utility companies raise rates? costs go up every year why shouldnt prices? where are they going to get the money from if they dont raise rates? the idiots who setup that 10 year freeze to begin with were the ones who fucked this whole thing up. what they should have done is set a rate ceiling of say 1% to 2% , that would be such a small increase every year no one would notice, instead because of the idiots in springfield passing that 10 year freeze we are going to get a 20% increase all at once. we are supposed to live in a capitalist society in which companies are allowed to make profits, the freeze on that is unamerican and not practical.
The African-American community is outraged by your use of the words "blackmail" and "blackouts".
RACISTS!
Taxation = Patronage
how many STROGERS ON COUNTY PAYROLL?
How many Cronies?
Where is our Federal Prosecuter?
FEDS HELP THE TAX PAYER PLEASE!
What about Frank Kruesi's blackmail?
Uh oh, local public trans is under budget again?!
Schedule cuts, station closures, ect...
But hey, I can't wait till cripples can gain access to all Brown Line stations. He's doing them a real favor while taking a cue from Daley on how to steal from everyone.
I'd rather walk than take CTA, it's the pits.
There is nothing wrong with a rate increase for ComEd, after all they have not raised prices in 10+ years. Nothing else on the market from bread to gas has maintained the same price that long. The only problem is why such an increase all at once?? Why not 5% every 2 years or so for the next couple years to ease the burden on customers?? As for Crook County, come on, is anybody really suprised.
Politic$ a$ u$ual.
The reason that the rate increase is coming all at once is because Com-Ed was caught price gouging. The attorney General's office caught them in an investigation red-handed. The ten year freeze was agreed to by the company. Now a single service provider like Com-Ed, is saying that it needs more money or there will be rolling black-outs. Com-Ed purchases ALL of its electricity from Exelon, Com-Ed's parent company. The price that Exelon charges Com-Ed is higher than they charge other buyers,Ivanhoe,Midwest Electric,...Exelon has record profits which is good but extortion of consumers through being a single service provider and buying its product essentially from itself at inflated prices is wrong. I am an absolute conservative and completely believe in the free market. Com-ed was built on government subsidies and is still very profitable. Com-Ed owns most of the companies that it subcontracts with for repair installation amongst other things. Com-Ed does not need an increase to make money. Wait until Harry Reid stops the use of the use of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility. Every nuclear power plant in the country except those in Georgia send waste to Yucca. Costs will then rise substantially. For those of you that have any money in cash move it into an energy fund which pays higher than the risk free rate of investment without incurring hardly any increased risk. Exelon amongst others have a natural supply guarantee of providing an increased valuation as a company through its divedend structure. As long as Bush is president, there will not be an increase in taxes on dividends which is significantly lower than on income. Folks do some research on the topic before being led by either side
Us city residents "employees," are going to get hit with a double wammie! Thanks alot you political fucks! It's hard enough that we have to live in this trash hole of city WTF!!!
I propose that the Township of Jefferson secede immediately!!
11/28/2006 02:14:25 AM- Can the argurment also be made...
Property tax increases have to be made to pay for higher wages and increase costs of providing health-care to Cook County residents?
ComEd employes to get raises? Excelon's cost to provide benefits have increased? Thus reducing shareholder dividends?
CPD wages? what is the source of City revenue? Not sure will have to hike down to the library and review the City budget. A few that I know of...Parking Lots (Standard Parking charges one leg, and 1 nut) Airport take-off and landing fees (747's uses to go for about 1100 as I remember). Taxes from utilities, cell and land phones, parking tickets.
Where will it end? If I spent money like the city or county I'd be in real trouble, not to mention paid my bills like them. Refuse to pay your water bill and see what happens
word is that the mr com ed ceo is in very LARGE to one of our local casinos. something like a seven figure marker.
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