Thursday, December 17, 2009

Michigan, You Can Thank Wisconsin

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From the Iron Mountain Daily News.
"We Energies adjusts rate hike
By NIKKI YOUNK, Staff Writer
POSTED: December 16, 2009

IRON MOUNTAIN - Beginning Jan. 1, We Energies customers in Michigan will see their monthly energy bills increase by an average of 9.5 percent, instead of the previously planned average of 16 percent.

Percentages take into account both residential and commercial customers.

On July 3, We Energies announced that residential customers in Michigan would be paying up to 33 percent more on their monthly energy bills in 2010.

Customers would have paid an additional $11.50 per month beginning Jan. 1, an additional $24 per month beginning in July, and an additional $1.50 per month later in the year. The total per month increase would have been $37 per month.

However, Brian Manthey of We Energies Media Relations said that the company informed the Michigan Public Service Commission on Dec. 7 of its intent to reduce the Jan. 1 rate increase.

"We haven't changed the overall rate request," Manthey explained. "We decided that the first increase was too much of a jump at once."

Manthey said that the average residential customer in Michigan currently has a $89.50 monthly bill. With the new increase, the monthly bill will be approximately $98.

Under the previous plan, the average customer's monthly bill would have jumped to about $101, Manthey added.

Although We Energies will self-implement the Jan. 1 increase, further rate increases will have to be approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Manthey said that the rate increases are necessary to cover the cost of two new 615-mega-watt, coal-fueled generating units at Elm Road Generating Station in Oak Creek, Wis. The units will increase energy reliability to all We Energies customers, he added.

We Energies serves approximately 26,000 residential and 2,500 industrial or commercial customers in the Upper Peninsula, primarily in the Iron Mountain-Kingsford and Marquette areas.

Nikki Younk's e-mail address is nyounk@ironmountaindailynews.com."
We Energies adjusts rate hike - IronMountainDailyNews.com | news, sports, business, jobs - The Daily News

People of Michigan, did you catch that, your still going to get the 16% increase , just not all at one time. Why did the reporter not stress that? Maybe she couldn't bring herself to scare the people of Michigan or she is liberal and doesn't mind when she see's people getting screwed over. Brian Manthey the X sports guy must really love his job. Were going to screw you, just not as fast! Wisconsin, Michigan, you just got to love having democrats in charge, especially those from Wisconsin. Will you in Michigan still send us a Christmas card?

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