The Big Apple I received several types of feed back and questions about a story that broke in New York near the end of last year. The newly elected Governor had vetoed a bill that would have helped consumer advocates fight utility hikes. Below is a copy of my comment and answer to the GoingTrueGreen followers that questioned me about this:
Please realize that I am not involved or have first hand information on this topic other than what everyone else knows through the media that loves sensationalizing stories. Nevertheless, there are so many layers to this onion...
I heard some things about this veto, but I thought it was the other way around! I thought the bill was to prevent fighting utility hikes and her veto was to allow actions against higher rates requested by utility companies.
I guess just wishful thinking on my part. So her veto turned out to be in support of utility companies requesting hikes.
From my experience when I worked at a Power Utility, many times they put in rate increases for cost hikes that didn't even happen yet. These requests were mostly blocked or reduced to only meet the real cost increases.
Utilities love wording cost increases to sound dire, but most are for future predictions of increases and problems that may or may not even happen! We should have the right to question and examine those requested increases. This puts pressure on the reviewing board, such as the Public Service Commission (PSC), that approves or discounts the utilities increase request. Having a bill to create an easier path for the public to request the reviewing board for a complete scrutinization of all the data is not anything that should be troublesome or vetoed.
Here are two reported pieces of data:
1) The state Legislature from all parties, overwhelmingly passed the bill last year, but the governor vetoed it Dec. 23.
2) The bill received fierce opposition from utility interests, who lobbied the new Governor and state lawmakers on the bill. Supposedly State records show this. With the recent election cycle, the law firms for utilities, raised funds for the New York Governor's gubernatorial bid.
I guess the story behind the veto of this bill, which is just a check and balance law, needs some real true investigative journalists. Sadly, they do not exist anymore and the onion stinks.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
Please realize that I am not involved or have first hand information on this topic other than what everyone else knows through the media that loves sensationalizing stories. Nevertheless, there are so many layers to this onion...
I heard some things about this veto, but I thought it was the other way around! I thought the bill was to prevent fighting utility hikes and her veto was to allow actions against higher rates requested by utility companies.
I guess just wishful thinking on my part. So her veto turned out to be in support of utility companies requesting hikes.
From my experience when I worked at a Power Utility, many times they put in rate increases for cost hikes that didn't even happen yet. These requests were mostly blocked or reduced to only meet the real cost increases.
Utilities love wording cost increases to sound dire, but most are for future predictions of increases and problems that may or may not even happen! We should have the right to question and examine those requested increases. This puts pressure on the reviewing board, such as the Public Service Commission (PSC), that approves or discounts the utilities increase request. Having a bill to create an easier path for the public to request the reviewing board for a complete scrutinization of all the data is not anything that should be troublesome or vetoed.
Here are two reported pieces of data:
1) The state Legislature from all parties, overwhelmingly passed the bill last year, but the governor vetoed it Dec. 23.
2) The bill received fierce opposition from utility interests, who lobbied the new Governor and state lawmakers on the bill. Supposedly State records show this. With the recent election cycle, the law firms for utilities, raised funds for the New York Governor's gubernatorial bid.
I guess the story behind the veto of this bill, which is just a check and balance law, needs some real true investigative journalists. Sadly, they do not exist anymore and the onion stinks.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
