Opinion Talk

By Dave

March 17, 2006 07:49 AM | Link to this

After the PSC deregulated the one and only gas provider in GA. (geniuses) I’m paying for the upkeep of my gas line each month (nothing has ever happened to it) and paying $6.00 so they can remember to bill me (account maintenance). This past fall when the weatherpersons were forcasting freezing doom and glum I had had enough. My old gas furnace died and I replaced it with a electric heat pump. The highest gas bill so far this winter has been $68 - I still have gas stove and water heater. So go ahead and build as many pipes as you want to. One more increase on my gas bill that is directly related to the market price of gas and I’ll go totally electric and to heck with all (the one) gas marketer.

By Lyrazel

March 17, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this

I think Dave really is answering for the vast majority of consumers who were hit with abnormally high bills while the company made obscene profits this year. Sure, gas consumers will end up paying for this pipeline but by the time it is built fewer homes will be connected to natural gas by direct request of consumers and thus fewer suckers to get hit with outrageous bills. But there will be enough consumers with old Energy Saving Gas Appliances to keep the utility company pockets well lined with cash. After those customers cash in their 401Ks to pay their gas bills…they too will give up on supporting this utility.

By Van

March 17, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this

Does it really matter. Some how, some way, the consumer will pay for the pipe line.

The only real difference is how it is wrapped. The sole provider is sitting on a virtual monopoly, yes, it is a regulated monopoly, but has that made any difference?

I would hazard a guess, that the “Gas Marketers” will also charge us for the pipe line, so we will end up paying twice for the same pipe line.

I just wish I knew who got paid what for the deregulation scheme, I mean scam.

Now folks, bohica, Atlanta Gas Light and Robbery.

By Knowledgeable Consumer

March 17, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

Just as a note to Dave, the PSC did not de-regulate the gas market in GA, the legislature did. That would be the same legislature that despite opponents ranging from scholars to consumer advocacy groups, is determined to add cost to consumers bills. The most disturbing attribute of this whole facade is the way in which Mitch Seabaugh, Jeff Lewis and Burkhalter are making a mockery of the legislative process. They know very well that this pipeline will not lower the cost of gas to consumers and have even said that they “just need to do something”. How about a real study into this thing guys?? Novel idea huh? What they also need to do is get a concious and listen to their constituents instead of the unethical leaders at AGL who are out to make more money off of the ratepayers by continuing to side step the regulatory process. I for one will be sending out the cry to make sure these elected officials are known for what they are, dirty, rotten, scoundrels!

By Lee

March 17, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

Let’s see, this law will tack another $2.50 service charge onto your bill in addition to the $500 per year service charges that you are already paying in order to enable Atlanta Gas Light to get into the gas pipeline business. Part of the service charges that we currently pay AGL is supposed to go to upgrading the existing infrastructure, of which, AGL has not done and is reaping windfall profits. In all things political, the golden rule is “follow the money.” Maybe the AJC should assign a couple of reporters to look into campaign donations to the backers of this bill and see if any pockets were lined.

By Glenn

March 17, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

Deregulation of natural gas has done nothing but increasse prices to the consumer and enrich AGL while greatly simplifying their business. The monthly AGL line charge we get hit with is outrageous and sometimes is nearly as much as the gas that comes through the line. A new $300M pipeline will do nothing to reduce the price consumers pay—it is simply a vehicle to put more $$$$ on AGL’s bottom line. To impose this TAX on Georgia’s citizens is abuse!!!

By ánother Dave

March 17, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

The entire request for a rate hike to fund a new pipeline is outrageous! How dare ANYONE speak of competition and how it will lower the consumers’ cost! This was at best a joke and at worst a lie the last time we all heard this. The plain fact that gas bills have doubled and tripled since the last time we heard this line of crap should convince anyone even thinking about this proposal to find another way to fund it. IMHO if this goes through and we all get saddled with another scam, the entire PSC and the legislature needs to be fired. If this new pipeline can not be funded as any other capital project, within the budgets of the existing energy companies/marketers/etc., then it should go away. To even think of asking consumers for yet more money is absolutely irresponsible. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

By Cookie McClure

March 17, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

No, we definitely should not fund this new pipeline. And to Mr. Lewis: As a landlord I would get “mad” at a tenant for building his own home if I was expected/forced to pay for it. Let that tenant and Southern pay for what they want and what will benefit them. There is no way this charge will ever go down. I am already being dollared to death with all the additions to my bills now. AGL sure made out with deregulation—they get a whopping fee to read my meter and I still have to pay my regular supplier—-please explain how this move helped the average taxpayer. I wonder when our elected officials will start thinking of their constituents and not big business.

By Jerry Wheeler

March 19, 2006 06:14 AM | Link to this

Media controlled Opinion Polls: Try to imagine, I have access to millions, I feed these millions a certain truth according to my agenda. After spinning a subject my direction for six months to the same millions over and over, I then ask them their opinion. Low and behold, they think just like I think. Now I know it is purely by accident or just a coincidence but it seems to be more and more prevalent. Anybody at the AJC have an opinion?

By MC

March 19, 2006 09:43 PM | Link to this

My family’s electric. w00t! :D

By RWH

March 20, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this

No! Companies that do business for america needs to stop sticking their cost on consumers bills. We are already paying to much for Natural Gas, Automobile gas, electic, etc. America was not built on companies taking over the lives of every American; it is built on goods & service. People don’t want to be continue to be burden down with high-energy bills that force them to keep paying for the benefits of companies to operate. We have more than enough gas, natural gas and electricity; its the dollar factors that keeps bring in the high cost of use that is pass on to the consumers. Consumers have the rights to say enough is enough!