Oh, boy! I would say that the utitility companies have been thoroughly embarrassed by the chivalric compassion of Hugo Chavez, who is delivering low-cost heating oil to the poor in Massachesuetts and New York. In an convoluted effort to deflect blame away from them, utility companies have started a campaign to convinve you that the high cost of natural gas is not their fault.
Utility companies around the country are so concerned about consumer outrage over huge natural gas bills this winter that they have launched public relations campaigns to convince customers that the companies are not to blame.
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In newspaper ads and on radio and TV, utilities are hammering the message that they are simply passing along costs from natural gas producers and are not pocketing a big bounty. The message also is cropping up in newsletters included with bills and fliers handed to customers. Utilities are even specially training customer service operators so they know how to explain higher prices to irate customers.
With customers' natural gas bills forecast by the government to increase an average of 38 percent this winter, these are among the ways natural gas utilities are trying to avoid being tarred as price gougers.
My utility company, KUB, sent a letter in October or early November, saying that my natural gas costs will rise 50-60% this winter. They outlined "ways" to reduce my usage in order to reduce my monthly bill, most of which are not available to many folks living in poverty. In other words it costs to reduce your bill and usage. Be that as it may, do the utility companies have a plan to reduce the costs?
Some companies also have been urging customers to contact members of Congress to push for more areas in the United States to be opened for drilling as a way to provide more supplies and lower costs. The Web site for Piedmont Natural Gas Co. in Charlotte includes a link that allows customers to call on their lawmakers to increase energy supplies.
Nothing in this article suggests alternative sources for heat. The WaPo was once again used as a propoganda machine. Yes, more drilling will reduce your costs. Of course, they don't say that the cost of drilling will also be passed onto consummers, or that increased drilling damages our environment. Nope. This is an effort to get people to support a policy that will be detrimental to all in the long run. People need to be asking their utilities and congress for cost-effective alternatives that do not damage our environment.
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