Your Opinion: Voice concerns about PSC, rate hikes

Dear Editor:

The never ending saga regarding AmerenUE's request for a rate increase is about to be revived. Having had a career in a manufacturing environment, I have difficulties understanding how a company has a need for rate (14 percent) increases at the frequency that they do (four increases in the past five years.) What it tells me is that they are operating without any sort of proficiency, however they seem to do well with monitory rewards for their upper echelon.

Just received an e-mail from "The FERAF Team" (Fair Energy Rate Action Fund) in which they comment about Ameren's latest rate request. Quoting their comment as follows: "The Public Service Commission has 11 months to review Ameren's request for a rate increase and will hold public hearings this summer. We need your help to make sure that the Public Service Commission stands up for the public. Contact the PSC to encourage them to oppose the latest increase."

Sounds like a plan, but my memory of the last public hearing it was a fiasco, a sham. The MPSC stated then, they needed to hear first-hand from the everyday consumer their concerns about that last rate increase and why it should be rejected. The end result of that hearing was a statement from the MPSC a few months later, that their hands were tied by law and they had no other choice but to grant Ameren their increase. What a slap in the face and now they want to re-slap us again. Enough with the abuse, do something constructive for the energy consumer.

The members of the MPSC are appointed by the governor, and he and our lawmakers need to address this situation by giving the members of the commission the ability to do their task proficiently.

As for Missouri citizens, they need to help themselves by being active in contacting our governor, state lawmakers and the MPSC and voice their concerns.

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