NYSEG says it wants to raise our
electric rates by 18.6 percent.
Here’s what the state Public
Service Commission ought to say in
response: Fergeddaboudit!
Local business owners and other
residents have to ask themselves
when was the last time they got an
18.6 percent raise in their salaries.
With those of us in upstate New
York already struggling with some
of the highest electrical rates in
the country, the last thing we need
is another punch to our financial
solar plexus.
New York State Electric & Gas
Corp., a subsidiary of Energy East
(itself a subsidiary of the Spanish
energy giant, Iberdrola), petitioned
the state Public Service Commission
on Sept. 17 to raise electric
rates 18.6 percent and natural gas
rates 17.4 percent.
We can only hope that those
ridiculous numbers constitute
just an absurd attempt to obtain
a single-digit increase when all is
said and done.
The Public Service Commission
should have plenty to say before
anything is done to raise our rates.
The opportunity for this will be
when it gets around to its not-yet scheduled
evidentiary hearings to
take testimony on whether the rate
hike is warranted.
``While our electricity service
rates have declined and our natural
gas rates have remained essentially
flat since 1996, the expenses necessary
to provide safe and reliable service
to our customers have climbed
year after year,” said Michael Conroy,
senior vice president and chief
operating officer of NYSEG.
Give us a break.
We really mean it. Give us a
break from that kind of nonsense.
In case Mr. Conroy hasn’t noticed,
a ton of people around here can’t
make ends meet at it is.
Even folks who make a decent
salary are huddling under blankets
and wearing layers of clothing
inside their homes because they
can’t afford to turn up the heat.
Small businesses are fighting
to survive as the economy slowly
emerges from a debilitating recession.
And NYSEG wants to raise our
utility bills by almost a fifth of the
high price we’re paying now.
Sen. James Seward, R-Milford,
noting that a bill in the state Legislature
includes a tax increase on electricity,
said he hopes the PSC will
look closely at NYSEG’s request.
James Powers, chairman of the
Otsego County Board of Representatives,
said: ``It would be one thing
if NYSEG got a rate hike and businesses
could pass it on, but that
won’t work here. We have farmers,
workers, people on fixed incomes
who can’t pay more.’’
We urge our readers to contact
the PSC and make their feelings
known about this obscene attempt
by NYSEG to gouge its customers.
Editorials
NYSEG, give us a break
- Editorials
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Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
Continued ... -
Have a heartfelt Valentine's Day
"I love you." "Be mine." "You're cute when you're spending money."
Continued ... -
Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
Continued ... -
Women must win fight for opportunity
The Pentagon announced Thursday that it will recommend that Congress officially allow women to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.
Continued ... -
Center helps victims of child abuse and neglect
We learned some good news about some terrible news in a story by reporter Joe Mahoney in Tuesday's Daily Star.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Chamber made excellent choices on service awards
A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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Cheers
To Michael Shea, Terry Bliss, and the passage of the bill to allow Otsego's exit from MOSA.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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A sad tale may come to an end with arrests
People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.
Continued ... - Saturday, February 4, 2012
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Pill abuse should be a priority for police, pols
Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed a bill this week to help police combat a disturbing trend of increasing prescription drug abuse.
Continued ... - Friday, February 3, 2012
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More needs to be done to aid vets with PTSD
The recent story of Stamford grandmother Melody DiGregorio grieving the loss of her grandson, Air Force veteran Edward "Drew" Snyder, brings home the debilitating and often-unreported effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on our service men and women.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 2, 2012
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Area 'shocked' at underage drinking? That's shocking
It has been referenced so often that it has become a cliché.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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School's new lease on life a welcome development
It is a big place designed to echo with the sounds of young people in a healthy learning environment.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Cheers
To the Central American Youth Ambassadors Program, to Ray Preston and to the NCOC building trades class and the Prattsville Fire Department.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Mitt's not at fault for loopholes in tax code
As the longtime frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney has faced withering attacks from rivals seeking to upset him.
Continued ... - Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Rest in peace, Naples and Stalter
Our area recently lost two important and influential members of our community: Oneonta surgeon Dr. Kenneth D. Stalter and newly elected Sixth Ward Council Member Mike Naples.
Continued ... - Friday, January 27, 2012
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Case closed on 2 years of turmoil
"Case closed."
Continued ...
Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller was referring to possible criminal charges against fired police officer Michael Breen on Wednesday, but Miller just as easily could have been talking about the more than two years of turmoil the city has endured with its police department. - Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Obama played his cards right Tuesday
Despite a daunting economy and a challenging re-election campaign, on Tuesday night President Barack Obama displayed what Mark Twain called "the calm confidence of a Christian holding four aces" in his State of the Union address.
Continued ... - Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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Searching for votes instead of honor
Say what you will about John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 who inflicted an ignorant Sarah Palin upon an unsuspecting nation.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Cheers
To MLK Jr. Day events, Diana Nicols, and Jordan Beers and Mariah Ruff.
Continued ... - Monday, January 23, 2012
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Dignity not enough to show in speech
After weeks of watching the often unseemly, if not downright humorous, antics of the Republican candidates for his job, President Barack Obama should have little trouble providing at least one thing Tuesday night in his State of the Union address. Dignity.
Continued ...
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Embargo no longer serves a purpose
