[Green] Sierra Club's "Utility Justice" training

[Dawn Hewitt]

Dear Greenies,

It seemed odd to me that the Sierra Club is actively encouraging citizens to protest proposed electricity price increases. I just now attended a “training” on speaking up at upcoming PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio) hearings, and it makes more sense to me now.

Obviously, utility companies are fossil-fuel consumers, and part of the reason they are seeking rate increases is because they are operating (and sometimes owning) coal-fired power plants—and coal is increasingly expensive. 

So, there’s a hearing on Monday at 6 p.m. at Washington State Community College. I can’t attend—I’ll be out of town. 

But you could go, and sign up to testify, and just say something as simple as “I oppose these electricity supply and distribution rate increases because I’m retired and living on a fixed income, and while I can afford my electricity bill right now, if it increases by 28%, I won’t be able to.” 

Or you could say “I can afford a 28% increase in my electric bill, but I oppose this price increase because I have so many friends who can’t afford it. These rate increases hurt the poor the most. Meanwhile, the AEP stock holders benefit, and the CEO of AEP earns millions of dollars each year. This system is immoral.”

Really, according to the Sierra Club, such arguments are persuasive. 

So, I encourage you to go to that hearing and speak up if you can. 

And if you can’t, there will be a virtual hearing on May 9 and 11 a.m., and you can also testify there. (But again, I can’t because I’ll be at work!) So option 3 is to send your testimony via a letter or email—which I will do. 

Below are links shared at that training. If you are inclined to participate, please have a look at them. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KeoS2GngGgTGPwTkz151hA9WKVryhoN_/view <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KeoS2GngGgTGPwTkz151hA9WKVryhoN_/view>  - How AEP is asking for rate increases to their distribution costs

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19WuZEVrFc14Nf9ZrRFMZ8c92I4rLcTNzIxwUD_95Vtw/edit <https://docs.google.com/document/d/19WuZEVrFc14Nf9ZrRFMZ8c92I4rLcTNzIxwUD_95Vtw/edit> - Talking points for testifying at AEP hearings

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qVWeP2SHzOoNqbwFcHUohLwr28gwgj0ACKFrkBygz5c/edit <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qVWeP2SHzOoNqbwFcHUohLwr28gwgj0ACKFrkBygz5c/edit>  - Why and how to testify at AEP public hearing


The last one includes a link to the PUCO public hearings site, where you can get more information.

Thanks!

—dawn


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