Pondering the NYSEG rate hike, Cap & Trade, and the mid-term elections
If you live in the Central New York State region you likely get your electricity and gas from NYSEG. It’s similar to CONED in NYC and RG&E in the Rochester area. In essense it’s similar to electric companies across the nation.
NYSEG is seeking to increase its rates. Not massively, but just by a bit. An increase of $19.17/month for the average customer. Not a big deal right?
Well perhaps the extra $230 a year is a small increase to most. But that does not factor in unemployment. Nor does it account for the increase in rates proposed by the Cap & Trade Bill advocated by President Obama and Democrats. And it leaves out the increased cost of oil and gas that will come from the BP oil spill as colder weather hits the area and the demand rises (along with price) as happens every year.
But there is one other thing that seems to be missing in the calculations. Back on March 30th, Rep. Maurice Hinchey was happily speaking with the press about helping save jobs with Stimulus funds in Binghamton, New York. A 49.68 kilowatt solar energy system was purchase and installed in Binghamton, reportedly saving somewhere between $7500 – $9205 per year. Rep. Hinchey was happy to ambiguously mention that this savings, and the jobs it would provide, came from the Obama Stimulus he supported. In fact the savings worked out to $0.20 per person in Binghamton per year, and created 3 jobs, which Rep. Hinchey failed to mention.
What’s the connection? Simply that the Obama Administration plans to improve jobs has failed, the efforts to make the nation “green” and therefore save money and jobs has failed, with a net effect of costing the average American more money they don’t have.
There is no isolation in all these things. Fewer people paying their bills forces prices higher, changes in technology that are minimally productive forces prices higher. Which says nothing of legislation that dictates prices must go higher to force the public to become “greener”, even as the green technology does not exist.
Looking at the political landscape and the proposals that are the goal of the Democrats, there is only one conclusion. The public must pay more. Not just the rich, but everyone. Because the things that everyone uses will cost more and the Government won’t stop spending (at the State and Federal levels). It’s that simple.
The increase in NYSEG is small, unless you make less than the median income of New York State (which is common in Central New York). The increase in the national debt due to “creating and saving” jobs via the Stimulus affects the average person. The proposed 150% increase in energy costs due to Cap & Trade will affect rich and poor alike. But the elected politicians seem to be incapable of accounting for the effect of each of these factors when combined, especially if a microphone is nearby.
The net result is that we can expect more of these rate hikes as the Obama Administration moves forward. With Senators and Representatives that are blatant yes-men (like Rep. Hinchey and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand) this will not be the last of the increases that will be shouldered by the non-rich. The only hope of change lies in the mid-term elections, and that is not a sure bet.
