The Colorado Springs Utilities Anticipated Rate Hike

Colorado Springs Utilities is a city owned company. They are also the only provider of utility services for the entire city and county. If you get services, you have to use Colorado Springs Utilities.

Last week, according to www.msnbc.com, they filed the paperwork to enact a rate hike next year. After the City Council voted in favor of putting it on the ballot, 7-1, the initiative is set for public hearing on November 23. Councilman Tom Gallagher is an opponent of Colorado Springs Utilities and was the only dissenting vote. His outrage was very apparent and he spoke out against the plan vehemently.

Spokespeople for the Utility company are trying to sell the idea by letting the public know, it will be a benefit to them. At least in the beginning. Because the company has overcharged Colorado Springs residents in the past, they are giving us a refund. This factored in with the proposed rate hike, will actually reduce the average customer's bill by about $6. But down the road, the refund will be gone and the rate hike will be in full effect.

However, the Utility company is saying that if they are able to purchase the remainder of the Front Range Power Plant on I-25, the rate hike will not be as much.

We get this news about a proposed rate hike from Colorado Springs Utilities on the heels of other news from them. News, according to www.citydesk.freedomblogging.com, that in 2009, they paid out $83,900 in bonuses for employees that no longer work there. OK. I would be interested to know how long that policy was in place and how many years they have done that?

In times of tough economy and in the interest of common sense, why in the world is a city owned, strapped for cash company, paying $6,000 a pop for sign on bonuses? Colorado Springs Utilities defended the action by saying that the bonuses were for hard to hire positions. Positions that were titled "Project Engineer" and carried a salary of about $90,000 a year. What is a Project Engineer for the utility company anyway?

They have since exposure, changed their policies. Now if they hire someone and they quit or leave, they have to pay the bonus back. They didn't say they would stop giving them, just that they would collect the money back if they hired party doesn't work out.

I am not sure Colorado Springs Utilities is in touch with reality or the public. I think being the lone company in El Paso County has been given much more power than warranted. They are trying to increase our electric bills but are making exorbitant salaries. Everybody wants to work for them and why wouldn't they? They are making great money to be what? Project Engineers?

Colorado Springs Utilities is not sure it will get it rate hike. After the November 23 public hearing, it may have to rethink the process. Everyone in Colorado Springs should turn out for this hearing and let the Utility Company know, you are not going to agree to this issue. Just like the stuff we are protesting in government with bad spending, Colorado Springs residents will more than likely be doing with this issue. They will be out in full force, letting their opinion be heard.

It is obvious they have been irresponsible in the past. Do we expect them to become responsible and spend the rate hike money wisely now? To even ask for a hike after the news of badly handled bonus issues, is comical. Colorado Springs will let us know in November and if it does come to a vote, my feeling is, it will get voted down.