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COMING SOON TO A UTILITY BILL NEAR YOU? (No Mitt Romney!--NEVER AGAIN!!!)
Power Line ^ | 12-14-2014 | Steven Hayward

Posted on 12/14/2014 4:57:31 PM PST by smoothsailing

December 14, 2014

by Steven Hayward

Coming Soon to a Utility Bill Near You?

The New York Times today has a long news story (“Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England”) about soaring utility bills in the Northeast, where many people are seeing 100 percent increases in their energy costs over just a few months ago:

For October, [John York] had paid $376. For November, with virtually no change in his volume of work and without having turned up the thermostat in his two-room shop, his bill came to $788, a staggering increase of 110 percent. “This is insane,” he said, shaking his head. “We can’t go on like this.”

For months, utility companies across New England have been warning customers to expect sharp price increases, for which the companies blame the continuing shortage of pipeline capacity to bring natural gas to the region.

Now that the higher bills are starting to arrive, many stunned customers are finding the sticker shock much worse than they imagined. Mr. York said he would have to reduce his hours, avoid hiring any new employees, cut other expenses and ultimately pass the cost on to his customers. . .

For the coming winter, National Grid, the largest utility in Massachusetts, expects prices to rise to 24.24 cents, a record high. The average customer will pay $121.20 a month, a 37 percent increase from $88.25 last winter.

As you see, the story identifies a shortage of pipeline infrastructure to bring in natural gas, and indeed we ought to be allowing the construction of new infrastructure to enable the fruits of our domestic hydrocarbon boom to be more widely shared (Keystone XL anyone?), but does this make sense as the chief explanation of rising utility prices in the Northeast?

The story makes no mention of the elephant sticking its trunk in the door: could these utility increases have anything to do with “reggie,” that is the RGGI—Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, whereby Northeastern states intend to solve climate change on their own? I have no idea whether it does or not, but with various measures already well-advanced to suppress fossil fuels, move to renewable electricity sources (solar power works so well in the winter in the Northeast) as well as a market for tradable emissions permits (whose costs are added to ratepayers’ bills), it seems like a question someone ought to be asking. Especially since the EPA wants to take this scheme national with its greenhouse gas rules that essentially amount to a blank check for the EPA to restructure America’s entire electricity sector. It’s quite likely that the EPA’s scheme, if implemented, will do for your utility bill what is happening in the Northeast right now. (See this NERA report—PDF file—for one estimate of its staggering costs.)

There is one modest and indirect clue buried deep in the story that gives away the game:

A year ago, the governors of the six New England states agreed to pursue a coordinated regional strategy, including more pipelines and at least one major transmission line for hydropower. The plan called for electricity customers in all six states to subsidize the projects, on the theory that they would make up that money in lower utility bills.

But in August, the Massachusetts Legislature rejected the plan, saying in part that cheap energy would flood the market and thwart attempts to advance wind and solar projects. That halted the whole effort. (Emphasis added.)

Can’t have “cheap energy” flooding the market! People might turn on light bulbs! Get a bigger flat screen TV! Renewables only “work” if conventional energy is suppressed to make it artificially more expensive.

Which brings me briefly to . . . Mitt Romney. There’s a boomlet for Romney to run again in 2016. But in addition to losing in 2012, let me mention the final two strikes against him. It was bad enough in 2012 that he had to do contortions to distinguish Romneycare from Obamacare, but how is he going to get out of explaining Jonathan Gruber’s involvement in Romneycare? There are videos of Governor Romney praising Gruber.

And on the electricity business, Romney was one of the cheerleaders for “reggie.” And who was one of his chief advisers and architects of the scheme? Gina McCarthy, current head of the EPA, and chief “reality denier” when it comes to the potential cost impact of the EPA’s proposed national scheme.

So yeah, maybe Romney could run again in 2016. But in which party? I hear Democrats are looking for a wider field than they have now. Someone might ask him if he’d keep McCarthy on as head of the EPA is he is elected, and more broadly, whether he supports the EPA’s new greenhouse gas regulations.



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To: smoothsailing

Wasn’t it Bob Dylan that said “you reap what you sow”


21 posted on 12/14/2014 5:49:04 PM PST by corbe (mystified)
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To: smoothsailing

Well that is strange... my wood stove hasn’t cost me any more than it did last year and I’ve still got 20 acres of trees to feed it.


22 posted on 12/14/2014 6:05:09 PM PST by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED.)
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To: smoothsailing

Even Before Long Winter Begins, Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3236992/posts


23 posted on 12/14/2014 6:12:26 PM PST by PAR35
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To: sloop

A lot of them have no choice but to vote for it since there is hardly ever any opposition on the ballot. The one and only time I ever voted in MA, there wasn’t a single Republican on the ballot so you HAD to vote for the dem or the ballot didn’t count... That is why I sought political asylum here in the south when I got out of the military.


24 posted on 12/14/2014 6:15:29 PM PST by 2CAVTrooper (If you ain't CAV, you ain't.......)
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To: smoothsailing

WHEW.......That was close, good thing that we didn’t elect that evil Romney. Barack is everything that we asked for(actually I guess we did)


25 posted on 12/14/2014 6:15:59 PM PST by terycarl (common sense prevails over all)
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To: warsaw44
My last bill was $40.00. Might not seem like much but I live in a one bedroom apartment and the heat is gas. I’ve a few lamps, the PC, fridge, scanner and that’s pretty much it. My bill in September was $18.00.

SO! You're the one......redistribution of income isn't enough, we have to even out the outgo also. You need to pay your fair share......just send me $150.00 and we'll call it even!!

26 posted on 12/14/2014 6:20:48 PM PST by terycarl (common sense prevails over all)
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To: terycarl

HA! Yes, its me...my white privilege is showing.

Pretty frustrating living in Massachusetts. Last years income tax bill was just enormous. I am self employed and for a number of years things have been slow. All I do is work and was hoping to have something to show for it.

Last years income tax bill both state and fed just knocked the wind out of me. Trying to stay motivated is very, very difficult.

Yet, I am told I do not make enough for a mortgage. Very frustrating.


27 posted on 12/14/2014 6:52:29 PM PST by warsaw44
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To: 43north

I just sold my house, stove, trees and chainsaws.

It’s funny how your situation affects your perception. Luckily, I don’t live in the north east but I see this stuff moving our way.

No new coal plants, a battle to just upgrade old ones. The fracking boom will turn into the fracking bust in short order if the oil market doesn’t improve. Nuclear power plant operating licenses ticking down to expiration.

The way things are going, the EPA will put a bounty on anyone burning wood.


28 posted on 12/14/2014 6:55:13 PM PST by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: smoothsailing

The power companies buy their supply in six month blocks, sometimes less. All those people who locked into an alternate provider for 1 to 2 years are in for a shock come Spring. I looked into it.


29 posted on 12/14/2014 7:26:02 PM PST by Minsc
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To: yorkiemom; null and void; laplata; Gluteus Maximus; Salvavida; Foundahardheadedwoman; baddog 219; ..

CWII — Make living too expensive and see how long it starts to take dying.


30 posted on 12/14/2014 8:57:10 PM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: Organic Panic

Obama: My Plan Makes Electricity Rates Skyrocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTxGHn4sH4

Obama says he will bankrupt the Coal Industry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RevRZaZQpk

Report: EPA rules to shut down more than 280 coal-fired units
3MAY2013
http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/03/report-epa-rules-to-shut-down-more-than-280-coal-fired-units/

Flurry of Coal Power Plant Shutdowns Expected by 2016
19FEB2014
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/flurry-of-coal-power-plant-shutdowns-expected-by-2016-17086

Blackouts ahead if EPA rules shut down more power plants -
20SEP2014
http://www.cfact.org/2014/09/20/epas-clean-power-plan-rules-meet-resistance-but/


31 posted on 12/14/2014 9:06:21 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: smoothsailing

Love it that RINO McRomney has all of these dastardly connections....and there are even videos to prove his connections.

Where’s the Ha ha! guy?


32 posted on 12/14/2014 9:13:52 PM PST by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
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To: smoothsailing

What does this have to do with Romney? Sounds like more BS to me.


33 posted on 12/14/2014 9:47:29 PM PST by Logical me
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To: Jane Long

;^)

34 posted on 12/14/2014 9:49:04 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: Logical me
What does this have to do with Romney?

The writer explains the connection.

35 posted on 12/14/2014 9:57:55 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: terycarl

Always remember, if he HAD been elected, there would have, with near surety, been a near complete military style semi automatic weapons ban after Newtown.

That’s serendipitous in retrospect, but it was a bullet dodged that most folks don’t consider. As big of a douche-bag as Obama is, we’re at least better armed in preparation for the cratering of the republic since his ascension...


36 posted on 12/14/2014 10:40:09 PM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: smoothsailing
For October, [John York] had paid $376. For November, with virtually no change in his volume of work and without having turned up the thermostat in his two-room shop, his bill came to $788, a staggering increase of 110 percent.

There are reasons for a November bill to be higher than October that have nothing to do with rates.

37 posted on 12/15/2014 3:58:47 AM PST by Sherman Logan
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To: smoothsailing

Bookmark.


38 posted on 12/15/2014 4:05:16 AM PST by SunTzuWu
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To: smoothsailing

Almost gotta admire them - not too often a liberal actually puts his money where is mouth is and makes a personal sacrifice for an ideal...I assume thy don’t like how it feels though.


39 posted on 12/15/2014 4:22:07 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: trebb
There's a sucker born every minute.

P.T. Barnum


40 posted on 12/15/2014 4:47:07 AM PST by smoothsailing
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