Reader comments
Rocky Mountain Power to scale back services

Great! And when Rocky Mountain Power is through throwing their temper tantrum maybe the legislature with set up more UAMPS type local companies that will restore power to average folks in what sure feels like an emergency to them. Maybe Rocky Mountain has purchased an interest in Honda generators?

Rocky Mountain's perspective on how to respond to being bridled comes from across the Atlantic where they're not used to American style business.

Blackmail! That's all this is.

They listed every monetary amount they wanted us to see....what about the salaries and year end bonuses of the CEO and other top exec's?

Disgusting!

They get a raise and we get less service. That's just wonderful.

Well, I hope the commission not only sticks to their limits but fines them for this ridiculous ploy.

Whoa, stop the presses...Rocky Mtn Pwr has customer service? You gotta be kidding me, how come no one was informed of this? Every time I have tried to contact them, about billing or service or whatever, I have a hard time getting to anyone even remotely concerned with customer service.

How do you scale back from zero anyway?

SO not only do you want to up the rates we are all paying for electricity, at the same time that prices on food and everything else has gone up but then you aren't go to hire anyone for your sutomer service. I wish we had another options of providers because this company is a joke. How about if you do the same as the oil company and just raise the rates because you "think" the costs might go up?

RMP's suggestion they'll cut electricity to Utah because the Utah Public Services Commission deems RMP's demands to raise rates as grossly excorbitant, is nothing less than a threat. To suggest that costs are rising to the extent RMP 'portrays' is ludicrous. Even the devaluation of our US dollar due to inflation isn't falling that quickly!
So let's cut to the chase and ignore most of RMP's baloney: RMP's measures as outlined above are nothing less than corpa bully-ing tactics and posturing to manipulate rates-raising on un-wary consumers for both now and in the future. I strongly recommend the UT Public Services Commission independently review the state's population growth and carefully scrutinize whether RMP has PROPERLY (accurately) represented and documented the facts surrounding "growth" and demand--if they haven't already! Kudo's to the Utah Public Services Commission; their currently tough stance is commendable!!

Utilities are against solar power because it gives homeowners "control" over their power and it is difficult for them to profit off what their customers produce on their own. Reports this past summer indicate that the solar power industry is increasingly becoming more cost effective, and solar panels should be 'worth it' for most by 2012. Of course, Utah's utility rates are some of the cheapest in the nation due to our dirty coal reliance, but consumers can at least become less dependent on RMP if they relied on solar energy, getting "credits" by selling excess back to RMP during the day when most homeowners aren't home and don't need the power and then using the "credits" to get power at night.

Raise the rates. They are a business, not a charity. Go ahead and cut services and have rolling brownouts and blackouts. Start with State buildings, no one will know the difference as these fools live in the dark way too much.
This company is entitled to a profit. If you don't like it put up solar panels and a windmill and get off the grid. I watch a helicopter holding a repairman 100 or more feet in the air servicing large power poles and lines. You could not pay me enough to do this. They deserve every penny they charge and they deserve rate increases. You want to protest? Protest Pizza Hut and Papa Murphys raising prices on their pizzas, not power costs.

Up to this point the comments made are as incorrect as Tom's reference to RMP's perspective coming from across the Atlantic (the company has not been owned by Scottish Power for some time now!). Costs have gone up for every power company - those facts are indisputable. Utilities have records for the energy purchase costs and for the materials purchased. Utah ratepayers are whiners who can't accept that they have been paying below market rates (compare national costs) and the gravy train has run out. I paid 4x Utah rates in NJ ten years ago. And where so you think UAMPS gets their energy from? Their costs have gone up as well. If you want quality utility service, you can't short the provider. The customer service that counts is infrastructure, and it costs much more to build today than in 1950. Stop whining Utah!

Time to open up RMP's books and see if they are justified in their demands. If the PSC's accountants agree, then go ahead with the increase. Otherwise, maybe Utah should shop for another power company to take RMP's place.

Maybe they could cut into their 10+% return given to their investors as a start along with executive salaries. The only customer service they provide anyway is someone who is there to readily take your monthly payment - won't be any cuts or shortage in that department.

Solar Power on my rooftop
I use it every day
Solar Power on my rooftop makes Rocky Mountain go away
Solar Power on my rooftop is so nice you see
It provides me with the power I crave
And Rocky Mountain pays my fee
They buy each excess megawatt
It is the law of the land
It is my solar power that Rocky Mountain cannot stand
Become energy independent!

You know two can play the same game as RMP. Maybe it time for the Utah Tax Commission to take a look at their Tax status and see if they no longer are in the Tax incentives base that we give them.

Maybe we should tax them because the State is currently not getting the money they projected to cover their cost of operating.

If RMP wants to blackmail the citizens of Utah with brown-outs, loss of service and jeopardizing the safety of it's citizens, then let's hold them accountable. Utah has enough laws on the books that require "reasonable" actions by companies as to not jeopardize the safety of citizens and customers. It is absurd of RMP to think they can swindle more dough out of the people, just to line their pockets. And as for the price difference between New Jersey and Utah, "You're not in Kansas anymore" Toto and Costs have never been the same in Utah as Jersey, and the same with Salaries. You cannot compare apples to oranges.

For those that want to know RMP does give rebates for solor panels. Also, they are not going to put people in horms way. If you look at the anouncment with a level head, in emergency they will work overtime to restore it.

RMP Joke - in this case you CAN compare the energy costs in NJ to Utah because as Utah's population and energy consumption (houses with AC rather than swamp coolers) has risen, RMP has had to purchase more energy from out of state and build more NG plants. Utah's coal base has not increased and the price of coal has risen as well. All of this means that Utah ratepayers are having to pay similar prices to what the rest of the nation is paying for energy costs. As much as I don't like Mid-American, the facts on energy and infrastructure costs are in their favor. If Utah wants quality service their rates probably need to double. Even then, they will still be cheap when compared to other places. Right now my sources say the company is being run so cheap and thin that they can't attract qualified applicants for numerous jobs. If that's what you want, keep on complaining till the lights go out. No utility company should have to operate at a loss and if el cheapo Mid-American can't run RMP cost-effectively, nobody can.

I don't like having a gun pointed at my head, even metaphorically.

Millions for Defense, but not one penny for tribute.

Look at Pacificorp's profits. They're making money at a better rate than they have in years.

It's time for the public to run public utilities.

Not to worry. You can always get service from Rocky Mountain Power. Just call their offices in Portland, OR and they'll be right out to help you.

THis is what happens when the government gets involved; there is a disconnect between the service people expect, and what they can charge. If the government would quit requlating the utilities, then the market would create an opportunity for other companies to fill the void.

One company could provide great service at a higher price, and anther could charge a lower price for less service.

All you people are upset, but the fact remains that it costs money to provide service. Even the government paid for it, it would still cost money (just twice as much), and the money would just come from a different source.

Either the RMP either screwed up their request for their rate increase or the rate increase was unjustified. On the other hand the PSC should review the numbers and see if they made a mistake. Either way this could have been done in a civilized way. I DEEPLY, DEEPLY, DEEPLY, resent and find totally uncalled for the threats and bully tactics that the RMP think will be productive in swaying public opinion to their side. They want to start a hate campaign, they couldn't have began any better than they have. They want to start pushing me around, they will find out how sharp my heels are.

Confused, you surely are, do you know who pays taxes in business? The consumer, you fool, not the business.I am going back to ice boxes and line drying my clothes and candles for light. NOT