Editor, The Commercial:
Natural gas customers should brace for the company’s next request to the state Public Service Commission to raise rates.
We have apparently concluded an unnaturally mild winter, which means that not as much gas was used for heating as usually would be. The last time that happened, the gas company (still Arkla then) went to the PSC to request, and receive, a rate increase because its winter income had been lower than expected. It seems likely the company will do so again.
For private companies, a decrease in sales also means lost revenue, but they have no recourse other than to tighten their belts and get by on less until such time as sales increase. They also have no guarantee of any income to begin with. As former County Judge Dutch King can attest, the same principal applies to government: If you have less to work with, you reduce expenses and services until the situation improves.
Utilities, on the other hand, are guaranteed some income as long as households use gas or electric appliances (or, lately, certain automobiles). That they do not receive as much as they had anticipated should not be reason to increase rates for what they do sell. Rather, they should also tighten their belts until demand rises again.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A similar situation arose a few years ago in Pine Bluff when the Sewer Commission ran short of funds needed to finance a planned expansion project because a population exodus had reduced the number of sewer customers. Rather that put the plan on hold and conserve until more funds became available, that agency sought (and received) permission to raise sewer rates. Effectively, it penalized those people who had not left town for staying.
Frankly, I am growing rather tired of being penalized for not leaving town and not installing solar panels.
D.H. Ridgway
Pine Bluff