Your Opinion: Continue rate hike opposition

Dear Editor:

I attended the forum that was held July 30 regarding Ameren's annual rate increase and was disappointed with the low turnout. With the size of this city and the never-ending rate increases asked and given Ameren I would have thought a more significant number would have attended. What I am hearing from folks is, "why attend, it's cut and dried, the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) will grant Ameren their rate increase."

To a degree I agree with them. However, if we are ever going to make an impact, we need to be stronger with our voices. More folks need to express their displeasure with the MPSC and their concessions to Ameren. As I've stated before, I don't trust Ameren and have concerns about the MPSC.

My take on this latest meeting is the same as the previous meeting, it's a farce. I honestly believe the MPSC has already made a decision about the increase (7 percent is my guesstimate) so our voices were just that, a voice going nowhere. A 2-3 percent increase I would not have a problem with, but 15 percent or even the 7 percent I'm guessing at is outrageous.

This will be our fifth increase in the past six years, close to 30 percent. Why?

I'll let you determine your answer, but mine is, mismanagement and greed. How many consumers have totaled 30 percent salary increases over the past six years, none. Absolutely none.

With this increase, the latest gasoline price rise and unemployment at 8 percent it's not going to take much more to double the number of welfare cases. Then where is the money going to come from to sustain the welfare program.

Movie title
Grade: grade here
Cast: cast here
Director: director here
Rating: rating here
Running time: minutes
Showtimes and Ticket Info