Don Cowart: MID’s fixed charges are unfair to those who conserve electricty
Bee reporting consistently ignores how MID’s proposal to raise its electricity rate to focus only on irrigation subsidies. MID has proposed raising fixed charges while lowering the price of electricity. This penalizes those who conserve or produce a large part of their own energy. It is against the law for investor-owned utilities to do this, though a recent change in the law allows investor-owned utilities to apply to the PUC for a fixed charge of no more than $10. MID’s proposal is double the limit allowed for PG&E, which as yet to charge such a fee.
People who invest in solar will see their bills rise more than the claimed 3.5 percent because their bills will not be mitigated by lower rates for use since they don’t use much electricity.
The MID spokesperson claimed this charge was for “overhead.” It needs to be explained why every customer should pay the same for overhead no matter how much they consume. Especially since solar reduces the amount of natural gas needed to be transported, electricity generated, etc. thus reducing “overhead.” Solar customers will be paying way more than their share of the “overhead.”
Don Cowart, Modesto
This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Don Cowart: MID’s fixed charges are unfair to those who conserve electricty."