increasing Utilities bills
For the 14 million Americans without jobs, things are about to get a bit worse for their pocketbooks. Experts predict that electric bills across the country are about to see a serious surge.
As utility companies across America are being forced to make updates to their extensive equipment in order to meet the standards set forth by governmental regulators, energy providers across the country are asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in brand new charges to be added to customers from coast-to-coast to cover the cost. These findings come following a report from The Daily Beast in which the news outlet examined an extensive collection of regulatory filings.
The year-on-year statistics show a steady rise in energy costs in the past 5 years, with the sharpest rise seen in the period between January 2008 and January 2009, reflecting an increase in wholesale costs during the period. However, since their January 2009 peak, wholesale costs incurred by energy companies have fallen; yet domestic gas prices have continued to increase for the consumer.
The average American household spends $111 a month on electric bills, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Take Woodward, Oklahoma as an example. The base rate for water has gone up 30 cents for residential and in-town commercial users and 60 cents for out-of-town commercial users. This means residential users will now pay a base of $10.80, which covers the first 3,000 gallons used each month, and $1.25 for every additional 1,000 gallons.
In-town commercial users will pay the $10.80 base plus $1.50 for every additional 1,000 gallons of water over 3,000 gallons. Out-of-town commercial users will pay double those rates.
The base rate for sanitary sewer service was increased by 35 cents to $11.95 for the first 10,000 gallons. The fee is assessed once for single-family dwellings, and per restroom for office buildings, commercial establishments, apartment buildings, hotels, motels and other businesses. Single-family dwellings will now pay $0.65 for every 1,000 gallons over the 10,000 base, while apartment buildings and businesses will pay $1.05 for every additional 1,000 gallons.
For trash pickup, the rate for single-family dwellings and duplex dwellings has increased by 45 cents to a monthly fee of $15.90. The fee for apartment buildings, mobile homes or trailer parks, or any multiple-family dwelling utilizing trash receptacles increased by $2.30, for a $85.70 monthly fee per receptacle.
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