YAKIMA, Wash., February 24, 2013 – Here’s something to think about.  Our power company, Pacific Power is asking for a rate increase of 14% for all customers.  That in its self isn’t bad unless you consider it in the context of the last ten years. 

Since 2003 Pacific Power’s rates have increased 85%.  If they are awarded this increase, the cost of electricity will have double over the last ten years.   This curmudgeon takes exception to this rate request.  And, here’s why.

Way back in the 1950s and 60s when I was but a lad, the electric power companies put on an advertising blitz touting “Gold Medallion Homes” that were all electric.  The claim was that electricity was efficient and cheap—real cheap.  And, it was.

Hydro-electric power was hailed as the power of the future.  It has become just that, but with a few bumps in the road.  Today the electric power industry is being blamed for polluting the atmosphere due to some power plants using coal.  Conservationists now also blame hydro-electric dams for injuring our fisheries, rivers and related forests. 

Conservation groups have suggested we go to wind power.  Wind power is a fast developing new green industry.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the American wind power industry has created thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to our economy.  And, the wind industry has received 42% of all Federal subsidies given to the electrical power industry.

Then what justifies rate increases to the consuming public?

Pacific Power wants a rate increase in part because it claims power usage has declined due to the economic recession and more energy efficient appliances.  What? 

What happened to the economic model of supply and demand?  When there is too much supply isn’t price supposed to go down, not up?  Boy, our world really is screwed-up. 

The rate increase request is being justified by the company because they claim they have to buy some power and that the cost of power has gone up.  What—wait a minute?

We have so many wind farms in the Northwest producing more power than we can use that the excess is being sold to the Southwest.   If we have that much power, why isn’t the price going down?

Also, the company says it needs to pay its shareholders who are critical to the success of the company because they provide the front-end investment dollars needed to build plants and buy equipment. 

Again, this curmudgeon is stumped.  I thought shareholders invested their money and then got a return from the profits the company produced.  Pacific Power is owned by PacifiCorp, which is owned by Mid-American Energy Holding Company, a billion dollar Energy Company.  Mid-American reported that PacifiCorp had a profit of 493 million dollars for the first three quarters of 2012. 

Let’s see if I have this straight, Pacific Power needs a raise in rates because consumers are using less electricity, even though less electricity is being used wholesale electricity prices have gone up, and shareholders need to get paid so they’ll keep investing.

None of this makes sense to me.  What does make sense to me is that greed is getting in the way of good business practices.