Allow me to share where we are with rate increases in our household. First of all, let me describe whats in place. We have a PGE good cents home which consists of: double wall 2x6 construction, dual pane low E windows, LED bulbs throughout, even in the refrigerator and the microwave, storm doors, extra insulation in ceiling and floor, heat pump, smart thermostat, wood stove, water heater timer that shuts off heater for 14 hours in a 24 hour cycle, low setting on water heater. You get the picture. Short of covering our home with an insulated plastic bubble, there isnt much more we can do to keep usage at a reasonable cost. When we moved here our average monthly bill was $80. Recent bill, $341, up $100 from December.
Prior to retirement, I worked for a public entity whereby for 8 years we took a wage freeze. Wasn’t easy but the powers to be and the union felt it was necessary to keep costs down. Really didn’t work but was a nice gesture at the time. A nephew of ours lives in Hermiston and lives in a large, new home with a total of five family members. They are with a PUD and their bill is $80 a month?
The list of employees at PGE is enormous and it begs the question, has the time come for PGE to start making some serious concessions on the part of the rate payers to reduce costs? Aside from the lineman whose jobs are dangerous and work under horrible weather conditions, I have a hard time believing that it takes that many paper pushers and computer people to run a utility. Also, take a look at what the President and CEOs are making. Also, why is it necessary to have all those lights on in Portland overnight and have you seen the lighting at the Capitol in Salem on a given night? And are we really benefiting from selling all of that energy elsewhere, such as California?
The legislature is supposedly looking at the subject of high utility rates. The Utility commission, who as far as Im concerned is in bed with the utilities and has no understanding of what is needed for change, has done nothing to address reality when it comes to setting rates. There are now close to 10,000 residents who have had to disconnect from the grid because they can no longer afford electricity for their homes. In closing let me suggest that the public and the powers to be need to consider a PUD and whether or not rates would be less. Also, PGE and utilities in general need to start downsizing their corporate footprint and start making some realistic and meaningful sacrifices in an effort to keep rates from increasing at such a fast pace. Firing all of the people on the Utility Commission might be a place to start as well. Apparently the three stooges as I see them; Widen, Merkley and Blumenhauer weren’t able to be effective on behalf of rate payers over time. After all folks, what good is it if you have all of those energy saving bells and whistles in your home and find out someday you cant pay the bill. Some folks are already there.
Most of us are familiar with the Motel 6 commercial where they end by saying, “We’ll leave the light on for ya.” They may have to consider using a candle.
Bob Decker
Welches, Or
Letter to the publisher: Bob Decker
