Comments on Advance Indiana™: Utilities Transfer Deal Will Increase Not Decrease Utility Rates

The Libertarian Party confirmed they're unfit ...

2010-07-27T07:01:25.246-05:00

The Libertarian Party confirmed they're unfit to serve in any capacity in this county when they ignored many of their members concnerns about the proposal and backed the plan.

“This was a complicated deal and an important vote. We know Councilor Coleman carefully reviewed the facts and came to his conclusion after significant deliberation,” says LPMC Chairman Timothy Maguire. “After weighing all the pros and cons, we feel that this was the right move for Indianapolis.”

I guess they want to continue their perfect trend of successfully electing nobody to public office in Indianapolis

The Marion County Libertarian Party should announc...

2010-07-27T00:11:01.216-05:00

The Marion County Libertarian Party should announce whether it agrees with Coleman's vote, or not, and give its reasons. I cannot remember whether Tom John took a stand on this, Ballard's water deal, but Ed Treacy did. What say ye, Tim McGuire.

Citizen's Gas won't discuss the service an...

2010-07-26T21:55:19.205-05:00

Citizen's Gas won't discuss the service and delivery fees which are astronomical.

Those fees will be added to water bills.

This is not going to end well for the residents of Marion County. These deals never do.

You nailed it, Indy Student. We're to trust o...

2010-07-26T18:51:41.041-05:00

You nailed it, Indy Student. We're to trust our government to perform due diligence as our public servants. They fear we might not want to spend more money we don't have on a tax increase, So, like health "reform", we've given a grandiose scheme. To not trust them or their scheme is to be ignorant of the nuances, or to be uncaring for your city.

Did you read the New York Times article today about England decentralizing their government health care system? They're simplifying the bureaucracy to save money and have the health decisions closer to the people.

Fancy that. Ignorant Brits.

Is this another case of "we have to pass it t...

2010-07-26T12:15:40.592-05:00

Is this another case of "we have to pass it to see how it works"?

Looks like our local government has picked up how the national Congress does business.

Straight talk from AI!! Thanks so much. However,...

2010-07-26T11:07:49.300-05:00

Straight talk from AI!! Thanks so much. However, I think that the STAR is probably IN on this massive fraud so well delineated here.

The PR assault on this deal pushes the idea that t...

2010-07-26T10:04:10.877-05:00

The PR assault on this deal pushes the idea that the rate increase due to the sale/transfer, would be less than the rate increase that was anticipated in the Peterson administration, before DPW got the price tag knocked down at the EPA.

But, the supposed $1 billion estimate of these savings in the new EPA agreement, has never been itemized to my knowledge, and may be as little at $300 million. The cost of floating all these bonds will be $900 million or more.

In the end, its all an Alice in Wonder fiscal riddle, polished up by a PR firm.

When they talk about 'rates' I think they ...

2010-07-26T08:14:07.921-05:00

When they talk about 'rates' I think they are talking about the cost per 1000 gallons used.

Do they conveniently ignore the service/surcharge amount when they say that? Or are they talking about the total bill each use pays?

We get hit for water usage AND also a hefty fee besides. Want to guess whether they will jack up the surcharges or even add NEW ones?

I am betting they will, and that is how they will 'keep water rates down.'

I think the truth is they WILL stem the possibilit...

2010-07-26T07:32:30.643-05:00

I think the truth is they WILL stem the possibility of 'triple-digit' water rate increases.

But they haven't said anything about what happens to the natural gas rate.

Or did I miss that part?

They can easily explain away rate increases for gas as being due to higher production costs and market conditions.

It is a lot easier to make a case for a rate increase for gas than it is for water. Water just doesn't have the cost fluctuations fluctuations of natural gas.