By Emerson Drake
7/12/11
Since the installation of the smart meters in Modesto, MID has been giving businesses rate breaks for off peak power use. So far they have yet to adept this concept for home electric users. Apparently in the Board of Directors has the attitude " why bother?"
Director Tom Van Groningen and his puppy dog follower Glen Wild have been adamant that home users must pay the same rates as businesses. But in reality home users are subsidizing the large commercial users. The heavy duty users who refuse to cut back during peak loads are driving electric costs up for the rest of us.
Not only should homes be given the same off peak load discount rates but changes need to be made to add an extra tier to the top 5% peak users.
Electric users should be charged for the costs to MID of expensive power purchased during peak load times.
Now our spring like June electric bills were lower than usual but wait until your bill for use during the recent heat wave is received.
Make sure the candidates running for the MID board in your area understand the plight of the average ratepayer and don't just sympathize with the large business users like in the past.
Call your MID Director and tell him to stop the subsidy for big users.
