FirstEnergy has been defending its rate-increasing Harrison plant settlement by telling the media, "...the agreement includes a commitment to "bring more jobs" to West Virginia, and provides financial contributions for economic development, weatherization programs, low-income utility payment assistance and an education program to promote energy efficiency initiatives in the state's public schools."
And not one reporter was smart enough to ask Toad Meyers who would be paying for all these wonderful benefits?
1. 50 more jobs - The cost of those jobs, just like the cost of all the other FirstEnergy employees, is recovered from consumers through electric rates.
2. Financial contributions for economic development - As we've found in other cases, these rate credits for industrial users (like Century Aluminum) are merely deferred for later collection in a future rate case... where consumers will pick up the $2.3M cost.
3. Weatherization programs - The settlement stipulates that this contribution is in addition to the $250,000
amount currently included in rates as a result of the Joint Stipulation in Case No. 09-1352-E-42T. "Included in rates" means that consumers are paying for it.
4. Low-income utility payment assistance - The settlement stipulates that this amount will be funded by customers.
5. An education program to promote energy efficiency initiatives in the state's public schools - No mention of how this is going to be paid for.
6. Additional energy efficiency programs - Paid for though consumer rate increases, just like the current programs.
So, what did FirstEnergy "give" West Virginia consumers in exchange for accepting the financial liability of a 40 year old coal plant? The bill for its concessions! Ridiculous! The best FirstEnergy can do is to point to additional cost for consumers as a "benefit" of this transaction.
And if you think that's stupid, FirstEnergy did it one better! Toad Meyers was his usual brilliant self... when asked about WVCAG's Objection to the settlement, Toad told the press:
"Just like any settlement agreement, there's a lot of negotiating, a lot of back and forth, give and take," said Todd Meyers, a FirstEnergy spokesman. "We all came to an agreement that people were comfortable enough with to sign and forward along to the PSC for recommendation."
Well, obviously if WVCAG refused to sign on to the settlement and has now filed an Objection to it, then ALL parties didn't come to an agreement. Or maybe WVCAG was ostracized from participating in the settlement? Or maybe WVCAG is just not "people?"
Qu'est-ce que c'est, Crapaud, qu'est-ce que c'est?
And not one reporter was smart enough to ask Toad Meyers who would be paying for all these wonderful benefits?
1. 50 more jobs - The cost of those jobs, just like the cost of all the other FirstEnergy employees, is recovered from consumers through electric rates.
2. Financial contributions for economic development - As we've found in other cases, these rate credits for industrial users (like Century Aluminum) are merely deferred for later collection in a future rate case... where consumers will pick up the $2.3M cost.
3. Weatherization programs - The settlement stipulates that this contribution is in addition to the $250,000
amount currently included in rates as a result of the Joint Stipulation in Case No. 09-1352-E-42T. "Included in rates" means that consumers are paying for it.
4. Low-income utility payment assistance - The settlement stipulates that this amount will be funded by customers.
5. An education program to promote energy efficiency initiatives in the state's public schools - No mention of how this is going to be paid for.
6. Additional energy efficiency programs - Paid for though consumer rate increases, just like the current programs.
So, what did FirstEnergy "give" West Virginia consumers in exchange for accepting the financial liability of a 40 year old coal plant? The bill for its concessions! Ridiculous! The best FirstEnergy can do is to point to additional cost for consumers as a "benefit" of this transaction.
And if you think that's stupid, FirstEnergy did it one better! Toad Meyers was his usual brilliant self... when asked about WVCAG's Objection to the settlement, Toad told the press:
"Just like any settlement agreement, there's a lot of negotiating, a lot of back and forth, give and take," said Todd Meyers, a FirstEnergy spokesman. "We all came to an agreement that people were comfortable enough with to sign and forward along to the PSC for recommendation."
Well, obviously if WVCAG refused to sign on to the settlement and has now filed an Objection to it, then ALL parties didn't come to an agreement. Or maybe WVCAG was ostracized from participating in the settlement? Or maybe WVCAG is just not "people?"
Qu'est-ce que c'est, Crapaud, qu'est-ce que c'est?
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