Rate hikes on the way for Progress Energy customers? (St. Petersburg: how much, utilities)

[bentlebee]

Hundreds of thousands of Bay area power bills could soon see a spike.

Today, Progress Energy will begin a series of hearings about monthly utility bills. The company wants to raise rates but some state leaders, as well as customers, are not on board with that idea


Rate hikes on the way for Progress Energy customers? - Bay News 9 (http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/7/7/493135.html?title=Rate+hikes+on+the+way+for+Progre ss+Energy+customers? - broken link)

Sigarette tax went up, utilities taxes, HO ins. will go up and what will be next?

How much is too much before more people can't afford to live here anymore and will move away and more jobs will be lost....

[saintpetegirl]

Multiple rate hikes have been underway for some time with Progress Energy. How will people pay for this increase when out of work, underemployed, or on fixed incomes?
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Hundreds of thousands of Bay area power bills could soon see a spike.

Today, Progress Energy will begin a series of hearings about monthly utility bills. The company wants to raise rates but some state leaders, as well as customers, are not on board with that idea.

Progress Energy is already asking for help from the Public Service Commission - proposing a $500 million annual rate increase to pay for plant upgrades and maintenance.

St. Petersburg Progress Energy customer Melissa Stewart said her bill is already high enough.

"It's hard because a lot of the places trying to help you are running out of funds because people need their light bill paid," Stewart said. "It's more problems for us that's already having problems paying $200 to $300 light bills so I don't agree with it at all."
________

They have since introduced 2 new rate hikes:

For example, beginning this month, a typical thousand kilowatt monthly bill will increase by $4.52. If the next increase is approved, by January customers can add on an extra $9.66. That means $14.18 more per month per customer. The PSC is expected to vote on the issue on November 19.

[bentlebee]

When cap and trade will be pushed forward...the rate hikes will be even more!