Posted on 02/01/2023 7:35:30 AM PST by george76
Energy customers, many of whom say they are being crushed by gas and electricity bills that have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled in the last few months – accepted the Colorado Public Utility Commission’s invitation to comment on skyrocketing energy prices, and it wasn’t pretty.
Dawn Fetzko, a customer, said she learned about the public meeting while watching the news.
“We're working trying to earn a living and now trying to earn a living to pay our utility bill,” she said. “I know my utility bill went from $150 to a shocking $365 in one month.”
“It's no secret that everybody is drowning in Excel bills across Colorado,” added Sabrina Padilla. “I really hope that these stories today are really taken into consideration because there's thousands and thousands of people that do not have the courage to come up here today to express their struggles.”
Commissioners have also been receiving a flood of complaints about soaring bills, commission chair Eric Blank acknowledged.
In response, the commission held a Zoom listening session on Tuesday, where they heard an outpouring of grief and anger – as well as pleas for help – from dozens who signed up for the meeting. Nearly 100 people attended the public comment session.
Padilla, who works with the Chronic Care Collaborative, an organization comprising 50 different voluntary health organizations representing a wide range of chronic diseases that partners with Excel and Black Hills Energy on helping disabled people with their energy bills, described a heartbreaking story of a man who had to choose real discomfort just to get by.
“I just spoke with an older gentleman on SSI who sits in his home all day in a winter jacket and has his heat all the way down to 60 degrees to keep his bill down,” Padilla said. “And he does that so he can wear his oxygen 24/7. He's sacrificing his body temperature to wear his oxygen to keep his bill down.”
Lakewood resident Eva Boyd excoriated the commissioners for what she said is their failure to look after the public’s interests.
...
“I've been living here for about 26 years,” Boyd said. “January 2022’s bill was $124. December 2022 was $194. The next one that I'm going to pay in February is $295, which to me is absolutely mind boggling.”
Boyd added: “You're supposed to be looking out for us. And somebody already said it here – you shouldn't be looking out for corporations.”
Nichole Broach accused the commissioners of disrespecting attendees.
“I have seen you guys smirk, chuckle, laugh and roll your eyes at people describing their issues here today,” Broach said. “This is unacceptable. Ms. Gilman had to tell you that it was not funny. I do not believe that you serve your people, you do not serve your community and you do not serve your state.”
Andrea Rudowicz told the commissioners that she had a gas leak at her home. Xcel repairmen told her that her neighborhood was known to have old gas regulators that leak when it’s cold.
“The Excel Energy employee informed me that our particular neighborhood had faulty old regulators that the employees were very much aware of and had told the supervisors, but nothing was done,” Rudowicz said. “If we're paying the high gas prices, I expect that our equipment is operating correctly. And I want to add that my particular meter wasn't the only one in my neighborhood.”
Blank vowed to “get a handle on this.”
“I just want to end with a personal comment to those of you who think I'm laughing at people's suffering,” said Blank. “I would just say I lost my wife to pancreatic cancer several years ago and I know what it means to experience hardship and I can just assure you I am not laughing at anyone suffering and that we're going to do whatever we can to try and to try and get a handle on this.”
Nuclear solves this. How many nuke plants are we building? None. Hope that asteroid comes closer than expected tonight.
I had a Nest thermostat put in my house several years ago. At 10p the thermostat heating is set to 65 and it stays there until 8A when it switches to 71 degrees. We have a gas fire place, but don’t use it till 8p for 2 hours a night.
To which I would only add “YOU are part of the carbon your government wants to reduce.”
Do you think the misery is not being dealt with in order to make going to electric seem more palatable?
Are libtards really this stupid?
It certainly appears so. Am I supposed to feel sorry for the Godless and slow witted?
Intentional ? Arsonists love to watch their fires destroy family homes, small businesses .too.
That is a very big part of it yes. But, I think that politics as well as greed from the utility companies have a role as well... Am I foolish for thinking that we just have to drill for our own gas and things would turn around? I have told my son that to just cut out fossil fuels with out a back up plan is just crazy.. Implement the plan THEN make changes. We are not saving our climate by not drilling in the US and then buying our gas from other countries...
Ha-ha, You made me chuckle...I will just say this.. I was the only one with a “Vote for Trump “ sign in my front yard...
I have always loved Colorado so much.. I am so saddened on how much it has changed for the worst.. I hate to say I have given up , but so many people from very liberal states have moved here. I don’t think we can ever recover... I will always vote for less government and less government spending but there are very few of us left that could make a difference.
Feeling your pain here in NoCo.
Ahh I am in NoCo myself. I believe that is where a lot of us conservatives are.. Farther south is a whole different story :) We are just going to have to stay strong, don’t they say “Nobody is King of the hill forever” :)
I don’t think you are foolish at all. My opinion is that our government is ,whether with malice or through poorly conceived good intentions, implementing policies that will create a new serf class.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.