Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : The New Economy and its Winners -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (6087)	4/3/2001 11:49:16 PM
From: Libbyt	Respond to of 57684

.. is not the new rates for residential around 12 cents per KWH? P.G. & E. currently has a Baseline Usage of 356.5 Kwh @0.11589, and all charges over that Baseline are billed at $0.13321. I believe that this reflects one price increase, but does not reflex the price increase currently being negotiated by the PUC. (IMO the majority of rate payers probably pay a very large percentage of their bill based on charges billed over the baseline rates.) beta.kpix.com From a news story today: "Although rate increases were approved by the PUC last week, the new rate structure will not be known until late May at the earliest, according to Lynch. She said the utilities are currently meeting with state regulators to put a rate structure in place. Although last week's order mandated immediate increases, it is unknown just how the increases will be retroactively added to consumer bills. "I'm sure parties will ask for a rehearing on the order," she said. "I want to see a rate structure in place by May so people can understand how much their bills will be before the summertime." There is a lot of discussion about how these rate hikes will be accounted for on the average homeowners bill. There are always people that cannot pay theur utility bills. Most utitilies ask for donations to help pay for those that cannot. Do the utilities in CA do that? Yes....there are several programs that provide help for those having difficulty paying their bills. One such program is Reach. pge.com "Pacific Gas and Electric Company understands what the loss of just one paycheck can do to a family's financial situation. That's why we instituted the REACH Program in January 1983. REACH, which stands for Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help, provides one-time energy assistance to customers who have no other way to pay their energy bill. The intent of REACH is to assist low-income customers, particularly the elderly, disabled, sick, working poor, and the unemployed, who experience severe hardships and are unable to pay for their necessary energy needs. REACH is privately funded by donations from customers and employees of PG&E. Donations are matched by PG&E shareholders, up to $1,300,000 a year. PG&E pays administrative expenses so every dollar donated goes to help those in need. Donations are also tax-deductible. There are other programs available besides this one, such as a program run by the Salvation Army. I think on our CA State tax forms there is a place to check to donate to the Reach program. Here is one recent news story, and the author's views on how this energy crisis might have an effect on the technology companies. "Techs face massive rate hikes Heavy users face 87% increase" sanjose.bcentral.com