Can anyone explain ...

[Sirensa]

why public utility companies (ie - NW Natural Gas, etc.) have the right to charge a "Low Income Assistance" surcharge on their billings?

Pisses me off.

One of these days I'll call them and ask - but atm, too lazy [/img]

[Aslanna]

Probably required by the government I'd imagine.

Fuck those poor people, let them freeze! I hate them so muchly!

[kyoukan]

Ive never heard of it whats it do? Is it like a subsidy to give poor people free power? Do poor people even get lower rates?

[Aslanna]

Ive never heard of it whats it do? Is it like a subsidy to give poor people free power? Do poor people even get lower rates?

Yes, lower rates. No, not free I don't think. Maybe it depends on income and region. Here's one relating to CA I found in a quick search.

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/industry/ ... mation.htm

[Laliana]

CA also has a reduced rate on your phone if low income.

http://www.consumer-action.org/English/ ... /index.php

[kyoukan]

fucking socialists. I never got reduced anything when I was poor!

[Deward]

Wisconsin doesn't have anything like that but if they did I would see them doing it as a way to get around regulation price limits. They can only charge so much but they could fee your ass up the wazoo. I am pretty sure they have low income asistance in WI and I know that the Electric company can't cut your power during winter months.

[Fanadile]

These charges are on WI electric bills. The Focus on Energy program in the state of WI sucks about $7-$15 per bill. It is a tax charged to the utilities that in turn they charge us for (well atleast that is the best way to describe it). My job exists because of this program, unless Gov. Doyle succeeds in destroying the program to fill the budget gaps he is trying to cover. The energy conservation and renewable energy programs in WI (not counting all the other programs) had a $3 return in energy costs saved for every $1 put into the program. Savings are seen directly by consumers in energy costs as well as by the state and utility companys. Using less energy in our homes will bring our prices down based on volume of energy consumemd and lower costs for the utilities who have to produce less energy. These programs include funding for new powerplants (including non polluting sources of energy, windmills, etc). Without the program in place and the money being dumped into other budget holes instead... we will see major money and energy problems down the road for WI. Filling short-term budget gaps with the money funding programs that will have long-lasting, continually growing, benefits for the state... Doyle is a fucking tard.

The company I work for supplies 75% of the product used in these programs for the state of WI. As much as $30,000,000 a year in products and services are purchased from my company (wholesale distributor) and our sister company (energy services consultants) to provide for these programs. There are countless other programs out there: local community action programs, utility direct programs, low-income assistance, and community awareness... many of which we supply as well. Expos in major utility cities give away thousands of dollars worth of Energy Star or better compliant products every year to educate people about energy and how to conserve it.

There's far too much to list or really discuss in depth about all this. I really don't feel like typing a 1,000 page essay about a bunch of shit I work with 9 hrs a day.

Focus on Energy home page:
http://www.focusonenergy.com

You can find some information and some ways to get yourself involved in these programs at this website... meaning: you might get free shit.

[Nilaman]

Jackass!!

[Kylere]

Bloody Hell Fanadile, whilst needs be I must jackass you, I must say that with posts like that you are very welcome to post more often!