Gulf Power rate hike hearing set for Dec. 12-16

The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a final hearing on Gulf Power's request for the remainder of a 10 percent, or $95 million, annual rate hike from Dec. 12-16.

The PSC will make its final decision on March 12 of next year, and an order authorizing all, a percentage of or none of the $95 million rate hike will be issued April 2.
Gulf Power will then have 30 days from that date to implement the new rates.

If the entire increase is approved, the average residential rate for 1,000 kilowatt hours usage will climb from $122 to $134. If the entire increase is denied, Gulf Power will have to refund customers the revenues received from September's interim 4 percent hike.

The public may attend the PSC hearings in Tallahassee in December, but no testimony will be allowed, and only written comments submitted prior to the hearing will be accepted.

The email addresses of the public commissioners are as follows:

chairman.Graham@psc.state.fl.us; commissioner.Balbis@psc.state.fl.us; commissioner.brise@psc.state.fl.us; commissioner.Edgar@psc.state.fl.us; commissioner.Brown@psc.state.fl.us

A FEW POINTS ABOUT PENSACOLA-BASED GULF POWER AND ITS PARENT, SOUTHERN COMPANY, WHICH IS PUBLICLY TRADED ON WALL STREET.

(1) 2010 Southern Company reserves were over $55 Billion.
2009 Southern Company reserves were over $53 Billion.
Pretty good to increase your reserves over 2 billion in a bad economy in one year.

(2) Look at this site on prices for power across the country by state.
http://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state.php
Most states are cheaper this year than last -- NOT MORE...!!!

(3) Thomas A. Fanning
Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer
SOUTHERN CO (SO)
Headquarters: ATLANTA, GA
Electric Gas And Sanitary Services
In 2010, Thomas A. Fanning received $6,019,151 in total compensation.
By comparison, the median worker made $33,190 in 2010.
Thomas A. Fanning made 181 times the median worker's pay.

Don't you really want to take a minute and tell the PSC not to give Gulf Power that 10% increase on the bills of the 99% in Pensacola? We have more than 3,000 people who have liked our page so far. If even a third of them wrote the PSC members, maybe we could budge them.

Anyone going to Tallahassee for the hearing Dec 12-16? Maybe we could form a car pool.

Thanks for reading this!

Ann Hill
sfnewsgal at yahoo dot com