At some point, doesn't it have to stop? I sicken when I listen to the current rate proceedings and hear everyone talking about "average" bill increases and "protected" classes of consumers. All I know is that I live in a 4,000 sq. ft. house with 4 people, I never run the A/C, and we use so few lights at night that you bump into things walking around. Over the last 12 years we have cut our monthly electricity usage by 20% through changing out appliances and light bulbs for more efficient models. At the same time our rates have DOUBLED. Last year alone our rate increased 26% (see attached note from SDG&E).

Here's a little utilities math problem for you based on my experience. My house - 4000 sq. ft. with 4 people used 1508 kWh in one month and got a $350 bill.

Assume that next door there is an apartment building with 1000 sq. ft. apartments. Assume that 4 apartments with 1 resident each use an aggregate total of 1508 kWh in one month. You know what their collective bill would be? $193!!

That's right - the same number of people, in the same neighborhood, in the same sq. footage, using the SAME AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY. One group gets charged $350, one group gets charged $193. I guess that's the world of utilities...

After visiting SDG&E's web site I find that I am paying more for my electricity than the published rates for EVERY OTHER CLASS of customer - including major commercial and industrial clients. My house gets charged more for electricity than an aluminum smelter. Maybe I should ask my local Alcoa plant if I could run an extension cord to their facility and pay the lower rate for whatever I use...

********************************************
From: info2 [mailto:info [at] sdge [dot] com]
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 4:50 PM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: Reply from SDG&E (KMM741349I4688L0KM)

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for contacting us.

The electric rates are tiered, so the more that is used above the
baseline allowance, the greater the charge per kilowatt. On average,
your kilowatt hour charge in August of 2005 was $.19. This year, the
average rate on your August bill was $.24. This is an increase of 26%.

We do not have information available on the number of households that
use more than 1450 kilowatt hours per month.

We do not offer time-of-use meters for residential customers.
However, our website can provide you with valuable energy saving
information. It provides:

- Brochures
- Conservation tips
- A meter reading tutorial