tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post6101594645728762727..comments2024-02-16T09:00:32.845-06:00Comments on FromDC2Iowa: UI Held Hostage Day 491 - Poll: It's Taxes; Nickled & DimedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post-43751513633253093202007-05-30T05:37:00.000-05:002007-05-30T05:37:00.000-05:00Hey, on this Candy Month wish your friends/ family...Hey, on this Candy Month wish your friends/ family/ loved ones to enjoy loads of yummy candies. Send cute and warm ecards from this site to wish them a great day.<BR/><A HREF="http://www.123greetings.com/events/candy_month/" REL="nofollow">Candy Month Ecards</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post-71275560710713560812007-05-29T13:40:00.000-05:002007-05-29T13:40:00.000-05:00Not that I'm in the business of defending "the man...Not that I'm in the business of defending "the man," but your comments on the City of Iowa City's water bills seem unfair and misleading. A "late fee" is not necessarily "interest," and you are not charged the same amount every week you are late (at least I don't think so--I have to admit I've never been late). But all residents also have the option of an automatic payment to the city (which gives you a $1.00 discount) through your checking account.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post-51817864574402806642007-05-27T18:16:00.000-05:002007-05-27T18:16:00.000-05:00Getting a big utility like MidAmerican Energy to r...Getting a big utility like MidAmerican Energy to rationalize their rates is much harder than getting a teenager to clean their room.<BR/><BR/>Their costs fall roughly into the following categories;<BR/>1) costs of fuel used to produce electricity <BR/>2) costs of wholesale gas and electricity for resale (the rate structure allows them to pass any cost increases for fuel and wholesale products on to the customer)<BR/>3) cost of electrical energy production (includes costs of environmental protection) <BR/>4) cost of transmission<BR/>5) distribution costs<BR/>6) construction and maintenance costs<BR/>7) management and billing costs<BR/>8) debt service (a very large cost)<BR/><BR/>An oversimplified statement is the rate per KWH includes 1 to 4 and the fixed monthly fee includes and the electrical portions of 5 to 8. The gas rate per ccf would include 2 + 4 and the fixed monthly fee would include the gas portions of 5 to 8. But if you look into the details (which are public because they are regulated) it is more complex than that. Part of the problem is the IUB agreed to splitting the charges so long ago that none of the active personnel today were involved and they don't know the details that went into that decision.<BR/><BR/>What they were trying to do was have a fixed infrastructure fee plus a fee that was proportional to usage. What you are calling a membership fee is the outcome of an attempt to have an infrastructure fee. They don't call it that and I doubt it would help them with their PR problem if they did.<BR/><BR/>Their worst PR problem is that they charge different customers different rates for the same service. How can they be so dumb? I also think they are borrowing money like a drunk at a casino.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com