Utilities want rate increases (Caro: sales, insurance, how much)

kathys · 03-24-2009, 07:01 PM

I just saw on one of the local news channels, that DTE and Consumers are asking for an at least 11% rate increase. The reason is people are using less power and they need to improve the old lines, etc. The good thing they say is it will create more jobs.
Everytime I get a bill there are more and more taxes, charges and fees. When is this going to end.
Besdes these utilities fuel costs too are back to creeping up.
Common folk bare the brunt of thes increases and are having to sacrifice food, and medical just to pay the bills. According to the president, we all have to make sacrifices. Why don't the companies share in these sacrifices? Are they losing money? What about their CEO's?
It is very discouraging to know that with every incoming bill it is going to cost you more and you are going to have to give up a little of something else.

Driller1 · 03-24-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathys

I just saw on one of the local news channels, that DTE and Consumers are asking for an at least 11% rate increase. The reason is people are using less power and they need to improve the old lines, etc. The good thing they say is it will create more jobs.
Everytime I get a bill there are more and more taxes, charges and fees. When is this going to end.
Besdes these utilities fuel costs too are back to creeping up.
Common folk bare the brunt of thes increases and are having to sacrifice food, and medical just to pay the bills. According to the president, we all have to make sacrifices. Why don't the companies share in these sacrifices? Are they losing money? What about their CEO's?
It is very discouraging to know that with every incoming bill it is going to cost you more and you are going to have to give up a little of something else.

The carbon tax (that I think will happen) will increase prices on everything.

kathys · 03-24-2009, 07:41 PM

So what is the next tax coming up? Can they think of something else?

Paycheck
-rent or house payment+upkeep and insurance
-utilities
-food
-medical(insurance payments or cash paid for medical)
-auto(maintainence,insurance,fuel) or other transportation(bus or rail fare)
-clothing
-education expenses
-all sorts of taxes,taxes,taxes and more taxes, fees, fees and more fees.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________
= What?

Bydand · 03-24-2009, 07:46 PM

I am NOT trying to be counterproductive here at all, and I really detest the thought of increased utility bills as well as other steps it seems we are taking toward taxes, but... it really could be SO much worse than we have it here in Michigan. I've lived truly high taxes recently, and to tell the truth all my utility bills could double tomorrow and they would still be cheaper than where I lived in the Northeast (Plus the wages here are higher than there).

I don't want them to go us any though.

zthatzmanz28 · 03-24-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bydand

I am NOT trying to be counterproductive here at all, and I really detest the thought of increased utility bills as well as other steps it seems we are taking toward taxes, but... it really could be SO much worse than we have it here in Michigan. I've lived truly high taxes recently, and to tell the truth all my utility bills could double tomorrow and they would still be cheaper than where I lived in the Northeast (Plus the wages here are higher than there).

I don't want them to go us any though.

Exactly what we say now that we are living in North Carolina...We asked ourselves what could be worse?

We thought 'NOTHING COULD BE WORSE'

so we LEFT Michigan and loaded up our truck and moved to RALEIGH...

BUT PLEASE HAVE A JOB BEFORE YOU MOVE ANYWHERE!

zthatzmanz28 · 03-24-2009, 08:29 PM

Kathys..think its not LESS use of power by people...LESS PEOPLE to USE the POWER...

kathys · 03-24-2009, 10:03 PM

In the past I had thought of moving to either North or South Carolina. Are you guys saying that the utilities are worse there than here? I know the sales tax is higher and they rax food.I think the gas is cheaper than here, as well as auto insurance.

Coldjensens · 03-25-2009, 02:25 PM

this is great news! I always felt uncomforatble about how much I was paying for power and gas. It just did nto seem like it was enough. They should be billing me at least half of my monthly paycheck for things to be fair.

wanderer74 · 03-25-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Exactly what we say now that we are living in North Carolina...We asked ourselves what could be worse?

We thought 'NOTHING COULD BE WORSE'

so we LEFT Michigan and loaded up our truck and moved to RALEIGH...

BUT PLEASE HAVE A JOB BEFORE YOU MOVE ANYWHERE!

Are you saying that moving to North Carolina turned out to be worse than MI, or that you moved knowing that MI was about as bad as it gets (and you were right)?

I realize I'm a bit off-topic here, but just was wondering what you meant!

zthatzmanz28 · 03-25-2009, 07:27 PM

Sorry bout the confusion..

As teachers we thought to ourselves--What could be worse than Michigan>?

We reasoned NOTHING could be worse than Michigan..(this is as bad as it gets)

So we LEFT and very HAPPILY set up home in North Carolina..LOVING IT..(we were right)

And ask WHY DIDN'T WE LEAVE SOONER ??

There is life everywhere outside of Michigan. I know that sounds cliche`. But we just cannot figure out WHY the great state is dying.

Sometimes hope and prayers are as influential as a wayward governor..