How Much of an Increase?

The Hazardville Water Company has submitted a request through the Connecticut DPUC for an 18.4% rate increase for it’s customers. This is absurd. In an economy in which people are being laid off, having their hours reduced, getting pay freezes and cutting back on items such as groceries, an increase of this magnitude is ridiculous.

While I don’t disparage HWC for wanting to make a profit, the timing of this rate increase is terrible. Add to that the fact they have admitted that they will be seeking a further 5-6% increase in 2010, something does not smell right. We have already been told that our electricity rates will “liely skyrocket” if the cap and tax bill is passed; the state is in a fiscal mess, likely resulting in tax increases, and if government healthcare gets passed, it is likely that instead of 95% of Americans not seeing a tax increase, 95% of Americans WILL see a tax increase.

The fact of the matter is that residents, especially those on fixed incomes simply cannot afford a rate hike of this magnitude. It may not seem like a lot of money on it’s face (funny, they always talk about the “average” homeowner), but for some people, any increase is enough to tip the scales the wrong way.

I am hopeful that the DPUC either denies this request completely or puts it at a more manageable percentage.