[Watchdogs] A Lesson from Austin? "Electric utility proposes major rate increase" [Austin American-Statesman]

Fri Nov 6 08:42:47 CST 2009

[From the article:

The utility plans to add a new fee next year and implement a major rate
increase in 2012, which still hasn't been determined. And because the
utility could begin losing money before then, "We have got to cut expenses
just to get to 2012," Duncan said.

Is there a lesson here for PEC?  YES.  Two questions we need to be asking:
What does it cost?  Can we afford it?

Milton]

*Electric utility proposes major rate increase*

*Austin Energy manager presents stark financial picture.*

By Marty Toohey <mtoohey at statesman.com>
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, November 05, 2009

Austin must significantly raise electric rates or the city's energy utility
could start losing millions by 2011, according to a report released
Wednesday.

The utility could face deficits of $9.1 million in less than two years and
$177 million by 2013, largely because of rising operations costs and
increased state fees, Austin Energy General Manager Roger Duncan told his
City Council member bosses during a presentation.

The utility plans to add a new fee next year and implement a major rate
increase in 2012, which still hasn't been determined. And because the
utility could begin losing money before then, "We have got to cut expenses
just to get to 2012," Duncan said.

Austin Energy has warned since 2007 of the need for a major rate increase by
early next decade. Utility costs have risen partly because it's become more
expensive to expand the grid to meet Austin's growing energy demand.

But the stark financial figures are nonetheless surprising because Austin
Energy did not previously raise the alarm and is commonly perceived as the
city's cash cow. For most of the past decade, the utility has collected
upward of $200 million annually in profit, according to Duncan's
presentation.

Austin Energy will pay more than $170 million this year for city services
not directly related to the utility's operations. Its profit covers about 20
percent of the city's $613 million spending on parks, firefighters,
libraries and other "general government" services, about the same as
previous years.

In addition, Duncan said, the city has also added other programs to the
utility's budget since 1994, when the utility made its last major rate
increase. They include annually: $8 million for the city's 311 call center;
$19 million in additional grants to make buildings more energy efficient;
$8.5 million for the city's economic development office; and $4.3 million in
subsidies that help homeowners pay for installing solar panels.

"You add all of it up and you've got about $50 million a year," Duncan said.

It's not clear yet how a rate increase would affect monthly bills, Duncan
said. The restructuring will be a two-year process that requires state
approval and significant number crunching.

In addition, Duncan said Austin Energy plans to add an as-yet-determined
extra monthly charge next year. It would cover the city's share of $5
billion in state transmission lines that will carry electricity from West
Texas wind farms.

Duncan said Austin Energy paid $6 million out of its reserves in 2009 for
transmission lines. That amount will grow steadily until 2015, when it will
total more than $300 million.

Most homeowners have seen monthly fluctuations since the 1994 rate increase,
and bills have gradually increased. But the higher bills stem from the
rising cost of coal, nuclear power, natural gas and other fuels that produce
electricity, according to Austin Energy. The utility does not collect extra
profit when fuel prices rise or fall.

Duncan did not propose specific cuts Wednesday, and he has championed some
of the new spending at Austin Energy, such as the solar rebate program. He
also designed energy-efficiency programs, thinking that homes requiring less
electricity can keep the city from building an expensive new power plant.

Earlier this year, Duncan presented an ambitious plan for Austin to get 35
percent of its electricity from wind, solar and other renewable energy
sources by 2020. The city now gets 12 percent from these sources. The
council is scheduled to vote on it late this year or early next year.

Austin Energy expects that plan to raise monthly bills 22 percent by 2020.
Large Austin-area businesses have formed a coalition that is calling for the
utility to reconsider the scale of the ambitious renewable plan because of
concerns about rising rates.

"I think (Wednesday's presentation) proves the point we've been making all
along; there are electricity costs Austin Energy should deal with before we
start adding costly renewable generation," said John Sutton, a past
president of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Austin.

Duncan said the plan will be the best mix of affordability, reliability and
environmental stewardship. But adding more renewable energy will present new
challenges, he said Wednesday.

He and other energy experts expect that growing numbers of people will
generate at least some of their electricity at their homes. Some of the 900
Austin buildings with solar arrays already sell excess electricity back to
the city.

"We will soon have tens of thousands of buildings for whom we (the utility)
are the customer," Duncan said.

Those homes don't pay for the poles and wires and substations the city
operates. But they still rely on the grid to send or receive electricity.

"My dream is that all of Austin's buildings create their own clean,
reliable, affordable energy," said Duncan, a former environmental activist.
But until Austin Energy creates a new business plan, "My nightmare is that
all of Austin's buildings create their own clean, reliable, affordable
energy."

mtoohey at statesman.com; 445-3673

*Your Comments*

  austinrulz<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=8802112&plckUserId=8802112>wrote:

Great. Something else to look forward to in the future. Everything's going
up but our paychecks seem to be getting smaller. What's wrong with this
picture?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:8c9c3ee2-4b38-4159-b659-e18563b9cbd4>Posted
on 11/5/2009 5:39:26 PM

 RetdPE<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=7130281&plckUserId=7130281>wrote:

Do the math here...the amount of the pending shortfall is about equal to or
greater than the annual transfer from the utility to the general fund. Cut
it out, make the general fund pay its own way, eliminate "feel good crap" in
the general fund and forget this "green" energy crap until it is
competitive. Presto, problem solved and crisis averted. Now back to room and
wait for pudding time. Life is good here at the home. I heard the voices,
but didn't drink the koolaid.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:055f24bd-8c56-4c42-8a12-6b8486135d30>Posted
on 11/5/2009 3:41:26 PM

larry355<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=6433318&plckUserId=6433318>wrote:

RK575957, I would hesitate to call Austin Energy, a real business, anymore
than the water department is a real business. They are government entities
and they are "controlled" by the city council, which doesn't do a very good
job of controlling Austin Energy. Due to their rubber stamping of everything
that duncan brings before them has caused me to decide to vote against every
sitting city council member and the mayor in any future election.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:55a3f9ba-8d20-429d-a4b5-29f315f5346b>Posted
on 11/5/2009 1:48:03 PM

 CF1<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9573552&plckUserId=9573552>wrote:

It sucks to be poor in Austin. We deal with the "bank of the northern
hemisphere" mortgage company, bus service that is going up and now an
increase in the utility bill. I wonder what we can cut from the personal
budget next since the city is incapable of cutting theirs.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:1c9ddce1-1b71-4c7e-a0c5-d4f8e2300a14>Posted
on 11/5/2009 12:05:45 PM

 RK57957<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=5082161&plckUserId=5082161>wrote:

Actually Mart why should they. You have to buy electricity and Austin
Electric a business.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:52fa6643-f1df-4056-970e-c7e555319171>Posted
on 11/5/2009 11:50:03 AM

 Mart<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=6398181&plckUserId=6398181>wrote:

Let me see if I understand: 1. Austin Energy encourages customers to install
solar panels later realizing this will cause a drop in revenue. 2. The
proposed solar farm and biomass plant will make energy more expensive per
kilowatt hour. 3. Increasing the utilization of renewable power will
exacerbate the problem. Maybe the city utility is being irresponsible to the
rate payers by this headlong rush to “always choose green without regard to
cost.” WE have to live within a budget. Shouldn’t the utility respect that?
Just wait till “cap-and-tax” arrives on the scene.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:84366e10-b1cc-4f90-b6e7-63a8c1b297e7>Posted
on 11/5/2009 11:41:25 AM

 hotrod51<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9836086&plckUserId=9836086>wrote:

...and other "general services"... Like to the tune of $250,000 per year to
Austin Revitalization Authority since 1996. Gee, wonder if there are other
"general services" that are so essential to Austin.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:42585a6f-9dc8-4804-a9fe-0a296c4461f2>Posted
on 11/5/2009 10:45:33 AM

 RK57957<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=5082161&plckUserId=5082161>wrote:

IMO there is no revolt coming people are lazy, mildly afraid, and to stupid
to revolt. The problem as I see it is, Austin Electric is a company, Austin
Electric turns a profit, the owners of Austin Electric don't re-invest
enough of the profits back into the company, and so Austin Electric raises
rates. You know what the funny thing is people will pay, because they have
no choice solar power is expensive and people are to lazy to take the steps
to live off the grid.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:3bfaa89f-8d21-4b55-924c-ed5287da9543>Posted
on 11/5/2009 10:44:27 AM

 IMO<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9790659&plckUserId=9790659>wrote:

Just an indirect tax the local pols have put on us without having to really
tell people what they're up to. One of these days, the people will wake up
enough to all the hidden charges they're paying for government-run services
and ask themselves if the value is there. I may be wrong, but I predict a
major revolt coming to a local, state and particular federal government if
they continue to spend the way they are.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:d7fe660b-0227-4ab0-bf8b-1132ed1c851c>Posted
on 11/5/2009 10:26:48 AM

 RK57957<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=5082161&plckUserId=5082161>wrote:

MovinBackAtLast out of curiosity does your PEC bill also cover water, waste
water, and such? And I think Austin Elecitric charges a "privilege" charge
but it's ohh I think $6.00.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:2e7640c4-52e0-484f-b510-f3e3dda86d40>Posted
on 11/5/2009 10:20:58 AM

 MovinBackAtLast<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=1585160&plckUserId=1585160>wrote:

LOL at all you people griping about your rates (and anyone thinking they pay
less in 'competitive' Round Rock needs to get a grip). There was a table in
the A-AS showing what 1000 kWh cost in Austin - $99. San Antonio was the
only cheaper place - $90. Here in wonderful PEC country, 1000 kWh cost $125
as we get $22.50 tacked on each month for the privilege of being PEC
customers.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:c8c24ff5-e730-437b-9341-8d9c4d53192b>Posted
on 11/5/2009 10:17:29 AM

 RK57957<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=5082161&plckUserId=5082161>wrote:

sing I'll take your comparison.

What is your average monthly bill, what is the square footage of your house,
what is the age of your house, and what do you keep the thermostat at all
day?

My house is 1700 sq ft. It was built in 1946. I keep the thermostat at a
consistent 74 degrees year round and my average bill is $200 -ish which
includes sewer, street fees for you lousy commuters, and that feel good
energy surcharge for subscribing to the green energy plan.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:3c96bc8a-a9e5-4a35-a1ae-0c2fe084d81d>Posted
on 11/5/2009 9:40:27 AM

 half pint<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9770830&plckUserId=9770830>wrote:

Duncan did NOT, "championed - - -", Duncan "presented an ambitious plan" ~ ~
Duncan did NOT do squat! His grunts did the research & all the dirty work,
then he signed his name! The COA has allowed MARC OTT & all the other six
(6) figure PLUS to "run" the city AND budgets. When are YOU, the taxpayers,
going to say enough is enough? When you are sitting in the frigid cold not
being able to pay your bill? I can tell you the white collar guys @ COA will
be toasty. Deregulation? You are paying your dues for the COA.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:e31e4f9d-d29c-4073-88b5-d2eebbdb7f48>Posted
on 11/5/2009 9:33:49 AM

 OldBlowhard<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=1867951&plckUserId=1867951>wrote:

This is horrible. Been in the same modest home 35 years. Property taxes are
already ruining us. Now this. I need to sell out and move away to some place
cheaper. Good citizenship only means good chumpship at the hands of the
greedy so-and-so's who rule our lives and pick our pockets.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:6f9805bb-5bd3-4363-a194-791256773949>Posted
on 11/5/2009 9:23:35 AM

 jm2<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=6629297&plckUserId=6629297>wrote:

This rate increase is necessary because of all the subsidized "feel good"
projects --- green energy, solar energy, a/c rebates, wind energy ---
undertaken by the utility company. They are spending the better part of
$100MM a year while admitting to $50MM a year. This has been going on for
years. They simultaneously pass on adding capacity at their best pricing
point --- S TX Nuke --- and instead subsidize and commit $1B to a solar
energy project which isn't even operable. Wind, solar, rebates --- all cost
far more on a KWH basis than plain old fasioned electricity generation. And,
now, after decades of abuse paid for by your electrical bills, they want to
simply increase your bills to pay for their flights of fancy. It ain't
rocket science, it's common senses. Unfortunately, common sense is a bit
uncommon in Austin and in particular at the utility and with Roger Duncan.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:a002aff1-e7be-4e8d-89ac-60f34c97d72d>Posted
on 11/5/2009 9:07:58 AM

 larry355<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=6433318&plckUserId=6433318>wrote:

One has to wonder what Duncan will be doing in retirement. Anyone want to
bet he will be buddy buddy with good ol' brewester mccrackpot in the Pecan
Street Project, still sucking up taxpayer dollars for a salary?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:add2b90f-a034-4691-939b-55a472d56618>Posted
on 11/5/2009 8:47:15 AM

 Nell786<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9903730&plckUserId=9903730>wrote:

Could we distill Toohey's 600 word story down to some key words? Words
"increase", "fee", "raise" used a total of ten times. Plus "extra monthly
charge". Code words / phrases: "challenges", "stewardship", "dream..
nightmare". How 'bout ..."tens of thousands of buildings"? From Nuke to
puke.. in only 40 years. I love sirdoug's idea!

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:0313464a-e8ab-437e-b038-27a9911f698c>Posted
on 11/5/2009 8:35:10 AM

 Wood-Butcher<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9635203&plckUserId=9635203>wrote:

What? All that green techno stuff along with the lawsuits demanding free
power and stuff has to be paid for by US? What's with that? Isn't everything
free now that Mr. BO Man has taken power?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:2aa681e9-7450-4a9a-aab1-bcebf8310796>Posted
on 11/5/2009 8:30:39 AM

el stone<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=3147111&plckUserId=3147111>wrote:

I would like to know the salaries of top executives at Austin Energy. If
we're going to suffer a "major rate increase," maybe they could take a
"major" salary cut.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:66995d62-27b2-430a-87ab-eae0690b9a25>Posted
on 11/5/2009 8:14:42 AM

Ronnie<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9812455&plckUserId=9812455>wrote:

It seems like when we do things to save the enviroment, it costs more and we
seem to destroy our economic enviroment. We need to balance things out, so
we can stay out of ther dark ages

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:caf2a208-1e02-4a4f-94f6-8483f588d0e6>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:56:54 AM

allen2030<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=3417439&plckUserId=3417439>wrote:

Something is amiss in the Austin Energy assertion. My understanding is that
the utility is making profit which is transfered to general funds since a
long time ago. What has happened? Statesman, please investigate and let us
know. Without independent journalists investigation, governments become
highway robbers....

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:e3a57d98-3b8a-4b27-99a6-9baa7b872519>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:54:49 AM

Oatwilly<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9909289&plckUserId=9909289>wrote:

Maybe some of the genius critics commenting on this story could get off
their keyboards and share their brilliant insights with the "liberal control
freaks" who are actually trying to manage the explosive growth that has
destroyed this city. Or, you could help re-elect a fellow conservative
genius like Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn and build another
nuke.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:5f0d77cf-2112-47d9-9725-8ba90da55706>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:52:39 AM

MT<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=1861660&plckUserId=1861660>wrote:

Roger Duncan does not seem to be the problem to me. He is just trying to
balance energy projects with the city taking $170 million from Austin Energy
to paid for non-energy projects. My experience with Austin Energy has been
fine. Street lights are replace usually within a day of going out. Power
outages are usually less than half and hour in my North Austin neighborhood.
Meter readers, before the switch to electronic metering, were always
courteous. The using Austin Energy as it's piggy bank is the root of the
problem here.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:4c046bc6-ab47-4746-8cdb-043eba9e3fc9>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:52:34 AM

MT<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=1861660&plckUserId=1861660>wrote:

If the city stopped giving property tax abatement to shopping center
developers (Domain, Arbor Walk, Mueller) so businesses could move from one
location to another, proving there was no need for new retail in the area,
we would need less from rate payers to cover city services. If ACL paid a
fair rate for making Zilker lawn unavailable to taxpayers for several months
a year, we would need less from rate payers to cover city services. If the
city forced the SXSW promoter to pay for his own extra security when he
freezes out local bands yearly, we would need less from rate payers to cover
city services. It is not Austin Energy that is running short, it is the city
piling everything on and call it Austin Energy's budget deficit.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:0f499b6c-f269-4270-8f67-4795e5bea63b>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:46:59 AM

Dean123<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=6687821&plckUserId=6687821>wrote:

Maybe the city of Austin can start charging for clean air to make up for
their ineptitude instead. Deregulate and have open competition like in Round
Rock.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:7903b947-90e4-44a0-ac6c-d2d1e8c6d087>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:46:34 AM

neilbert<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=5334670&plckUserId=5334670>wrote:

TexBob- The electric utility is city owned as has always been a major
contributor to the revenue stream. It is- or has been- a cash cow that has
had its income diverted to many different city enterprises. It could be
argued that utility income has helped to moderate city property taxes. Look
at the numbers.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:fba5af14-035e-491b-800d-0ba54ddb33c3>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:44:49 AM

Bill Bunch<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=2025880&plckUserId=2025880>wrote:

Roger Duncan is recognized globally as a leader in energy innovation. Austin
has been blessed by his leadership. There's plenty to argue over, with so
much change facing our city and the planet. At least Roger and his top staff
are willing to engage the community on these issues while challenging us to
shift toward sustainability. Meanwhile, our Water Utility is stuck in the
Dark Ages, captured by contractors eager to stuff over a half billion
dollars of our money in their pockets to build a water plant that we don't
need and that won't give us a single drop of extra water. Planning for
efficiency and renewables saves money and saves us from ourselves; planning
for waste is a financial and environmental dead end.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:32502abd-e030-4ac4-8dfd-88a197b6474c>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:39:41 AM

TexBob<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9448702&plckUserId=9448702>wrote:

Why are they using energy dollars to pay for non energy related expenses.
Stop the spending! The electric bill is becoming nothing more than another
tax.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:17171a9b-7ce3-4f91-ab08-9cafc0e30f45>Posted
on 11/5/2009 7:03:45 AM

Jon7<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9501229&plckUserId=9501229>wrote:

Roger Duncan is an absolute FOOL!. This is the same idiot who authorized
trashing $250 MILLION DOLLARS on a useless solar panel farm back in May. No
wonder he want's a rate increase! How about cutting salaries by 20%? Plus
eliminating all health insurance cost's? If employee's complain,fire-em!
Just where are they going to go in this sorry economy?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:bb75fabb-886b-4996-bbbf-c8fbb92e591c>Posted
on 11/5/2009 6:18:52 AM

Bevo31<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9824402&plckUserId=9824402>wrote:

Bottom line here is you give a bunch of liberal control freaks control of a
utility and they will pad it with all of their social engineering flaky
idea. Duncan has spent this cash cow into a real mess with all his
"alternative energy" quacky ideas. When willpeople learn that liberals dont
care about costs just playing with peoples money for their nutty ideas.
Austin is going to run companies and josb out of Austin with this kind of
nutty leadership on the council. next election these folks need to be sent
packing and most of their kooky ideas stopped. Natural gas is plentiful and
cheap today. If they had just gotten more gas none of this would be
necessary. 20% higher electric bills is an economic disaster for Austin.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:62da13ce-0afc-4c1e-a0e3-016f65be54da>Posted
on 11/5/2009 6:05:00 AM

sirdoug<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=7831485&plckUserId=7831485>wrote:

I think I will end up investing in a super efficient 220v. window AC unit
for the bedroom. Of course when the semi permanent unemployment rate is set
at ten percent and underemployment is at 15-17% having three generations
living in the same house will help deflect this major change in the cost of
living.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:1b99a938-8291-4a42-98a8-2858a1401f1f>Posted
on 11/5/2009 6:03:34 AM

sirdoug<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=7831485&plckUserId=7831485>wrote:

No we are not paying more than most cities but the utility subsidizes the
COA budget and that budget needs to be trimmed of superfluous cultural, and
unrealistic "green" initiatives.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:33b0d8fa-8394-42ae-a271-51d5250e6fb7>Posted
on 11/5/2009 5:58:52 AM

sirdoug<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=7831485&plckUserId=7831485>wrote:

Growth does not pay for itself and we do not need any of this "$8 million
for the city's 311 call center; $19 million in additional grants to make
buildings more energy efficient; $8.5 million for the city's economic
development office; and $4.3 million in subsidies that help homeowners pay
for installing solar panels."

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:8dc40abe-69a6-4a6e-8790-08b74f9ff9c1>Posted
on 11/5/2009 5:56:23 AM

NBryan<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=8140691&plckUserId=8140691>wrote:

We need an alternative! I'm thinking of installing some solar panels to
offset some of this increase. Anyone know of a good installer?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:787ff2dd-f8ae-4439-a7a4-bc6068cb4bbc>Posted
on 11/5/2009 1:42:24 AM

ShutYourPieHole<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=7363795&plckUserId=7363795>wrote:

Rodger Duncan: Former flower salesman like Mac Noffzinger and now our
utility manager. Thanks Toby Futtrell and Mark Ott. As I get older I get to
pay for these nincompoops and their ineffeciencies as managers.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:f416d7b1-b2d0-4e84-b727-3a699d7af970>Posted
on 11/5/2009 1:20:40 AM

zsmitr<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=2560283&plckUserId=2560283>wrote:

Higher property taxes? Higher electricity? Higher Salary - NOT! It is
getting to where one can't afford to live here I'm telling you.

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:5c4e69c0-a08a-4698-a568-67ebdb04bd38>Posted
on 11/5/2009 12:01:40 AM

donnalee<http://www.statesman.com/sitelife/content/sitelife/persona.html?newspaperUserId=9878911&plckUserId=9878911>wrote:

Aren't we already paying more than most cities?

#<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52#comment-CommentKey:53f87662-db09-43e3-9053-54ec5b29ebe3>Posted
on 11/4/2009 11:50:58 PM

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/11/05/1105energy.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52

-- 
Milton Hawkins
P.O. Box 1502
Johnson City, Texas 78636-1502
830-868-9075
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