Regarding the Wednesday article “Winter natural gas bills should drop,” in which the Federal Energy Department predicts homes using natural gas for heating will drop by $119 this year:
Apparently the feds aren’t aware that our state utilities commission recently allowed a rate increase to Puget Sound Energy of 8 percent, which was effective Oct. 1 in south Snohomish County, while Cascade Gas, which serves North Snohomish County, didn’t raise its rates. If gas is now so plentiful, why was PSE allowed to raise its rates ? I e-mailed the commission several months ago, urging it not to allow the rate increase due to PSE’s poor performance and accountability.
Even if we have a milder winter, I don’t expect PSE to reduce its monthly rates, particularly for those on a budget plan like my family. Last year we were paying $60 a month, now it is $103 per month – go figure – who is getting the benefit?
Suppose Enron were to reimburse PSE for exorbitant prices during the energy debacle a few years ago. As a friend of mine said recently, “I doubt that PSE would pass on those savings to their customers in our area.”
It’s too bad that Cascade Natural Gas doesn’t serve all of Snohomish County.
Warren Schweppe
Edmonds
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