Utility plan powers worries (electricity deregulation, Ohio)

[jpak]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18987067&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6

Sandi Reckner wasn't happy with her electric bill last summer. "It was up to about $100 in July and August, almost double what it is in those months in the summertime in my very small house," said Reckner, a Willoughby Hills resident. "My gas bills are also really high. Gas goes up high in the winter when electricity does in the summer. I pay $150 to $200 during winter months with a three-ply window. What you have to do is wrap your house in plastic."

Reckner is an avid user of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, which provides such a consumer up to a 5 percent break on utility bills. She also is reviewing every option she can for alternative energy providers.

Such Northeast Ohio homeowners and business owners might take a long last look at average utility bills, mainly for electricity, as the state will pull the plug on utility regulation on Dec. 31, 2008, moving to full deregulation.

In an Ohio home, average monthly bills are $78.14 for electricity, $114.53 for gas and $22.80 for the telephone, all of which are around the midpoint for utility rates in Midwest states, according to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

<more>

[johncoby2]

1. You guys are a bunch of idiots!

We hair in Texus did sum dee regulachion a few years go.

Our bills doubled.

Now, at least wees noos der are sum udder stewpid peoples in the countree just like us.

We might bees cuzzins or sumtin.