Friday, October 05, 2007

Not surprised on the power rate cut

I'm not the least bit surprised at this legislative override to lower the residential power rates. The governor was being honest and prudent, not expedient. CUC, like most things on this island, is run ineptly. Half the problem is our Jurassic and economy of scale requirement to have a diesel engine power plant, which no one thought wise to maintain. This island became too overpopulated to handle the power demand. It seemed like there were at least fewer power outages with the higher rates as people conserved. I would expect more outages now, and that will drive businesses away and further our economic collapse. There was no business reduction, so the businesses still have the high rates and can expect more outages. This is an election year gambit. Courage would have been firing those jackasses who run CUC, even if they are your political supporters. There is no plan in place to fund the financial shortfall this will cause, and this override is another signal to any possible firms who would run a privatized power company that the politicians will do whatever is politically expedient. CUC needs close oversight for waste, abuse and corruption, not candy thrown to voters a month before an election.

8 comments:

Brad Ruszala said...

...and the congress said 'let there be darkness.'

actually, i'm glad that the rates are going down and that there will be blackouts. that will help me even more because i don't have to pay for power when my generator is on.

thanks, candy throwers. you're still a bunch of schmucks, though.

Anonymous said...

This is the worst kind of election year pandering. The damn utility is broke, both financially and figuratively.

So now they will be losing money on every Killowatt Hour they sell, people will use more because it costs less, and CUC will go deeper and deeper into a hole it can never get out of.

Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of
Congress. But I repeat myself. Mark Twain


A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw

Talk is cheap ... except when Congress does it. Unknown

What this country needs is more unemployed politicians. Edward Langley

Anonymous said...

PUT THAT GEORGE FOREMAN AWAY BECAUSE IT'S BBQ TIME! YEEEAHHH.

Anonymous said...

CUC and CHC are both on the boat.People are hired and are working there not for what they know but who they know.

Lil' Hammerhead said...

I know both of the agencies have armies of staff. I can't speak on CHC, but the complete list of CUC employees and their salaries were printed in one of the local newspapers last year and the numbers of employees making over $40,000 and $50,000 per seemed astronomical. They had several making upwards of 60 and 70 as well. Now i totally understand the salaries for engineers and a generator specialist or two.. but all of these people were not engineers. Again, I'm not talking four or five people here, there were tens of people making what would be considered here to be "whopping" salaries.

Bruce A. Bateman said...

You are spot on Jeff.

Brad, look for your rent to go up when the brownouts become frequent. There is no free lunch my friend. The apartment owner who buys the fuel will spread the cost, plus a margin to cover excess tax and overhead, right on to you and your neighbors. She must.

Brad Ruszala said...

yeah, but i can always move to a cheaper place. say in a DIY pala pala...