Have you have read the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative The High Line By Line
newsletter included with your January electric bill? I prefer to call it the “Lottery Winners Gazette” considering all the contests they’ve run lately. Forty-one winners were announced in this month’s “Watt Savers” contest, with $1,072.00 awarded.
A customer who completed a survey won an additional $100.00 and another lucky contestant won a Christmas ham. I can’t wait to read about the winners of the three-legged race at the AEC picnic this year.
Among the many prize listings, you may have noticed that the fixed monthly charge for electric service will increase a whopping 16.7% for 2010. This charge had been increased by 12.5% in 2009 and 14.3% in 2008. You’ll pay $504.00 this year in addition to your electric usage. Ouch!
Arrowhead Electric also intends to provide line maintenance service for the broadband fiber optic cable proposed to be run throughout Cook County soon.
Will additional monthly fees be added to cover the cost of labor and equipment to maintain fiber optic lines, whether or not you subscribe to broadband services?
As AEC rates increase, will Arrowhead Electric lose a significant percentage of its customers to private solar installation? How much more will AEC rates need to be raised to make up for the loss of customers previously sharing costs?
Perhaps while sitting on their “per-diems” in AEC’s fancy new boardroom, AEC’s board of directors could stop promoting cash prize give-a-ways, publishing recipes, funding nonprofits, hosting pancake breakfasts and make an earnest attempt to better manage the co-operative’s resources.
Thenwe could all be winners.
Bob LaMettry
Pike Lake Road
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