Don’t forget about rate requests

Hal Morris, writing on his GrumpyEditor.com blog, reminds business journalists to regularly check rate filing requests from utilities at state public service commissions.

Morris writes, “In covering utilities and their constant parade of rate increase proposals before state public utility commissions, business writers should do a bit of fact checking, even if it means looking at their own bills, rather than following information put out by the companies, suggests Grumpy Editor.

“For example, already-squeezed customers of Nevada power utility NV Energy —  in a state already among those with the highest electricity rates in the West — are grumbling about state Public Utilities Commission approval Monday of a 3.4 percent rate increase that goes into effect on July 1.

“The boost seems modest enough, especially when New York Stock Exchange-listed NV Energy puts ‘the average residential bill’ extra cost at a mere $5.29 a month.

“But when customers, most living in air-conditioned homes, view their electric bill for July, they’ll see a total close to $300 — or more, figuring a single-story 2,400-square-foot home.  That will be $10 to $15 above the like month a year prior.

“NV Energy bills include an assortment of fees and charges, such as basic service charge, local government fee, universal energy charge, temporary green power financing and renewable energy program.”

Read more here.