New version of Toledo Talk

First Energy Competition - WNWO also has a story about city/county looking into a government-owned electric company to compete with First Energy and their high electric bills.

Here's the link:
http://www.nbc24.com/Global/story.asp?S=4375199

Looks like it could be an ugly fight.
posted by sparky to news at 10:35 A.M. EST     (3 Comments)

Comments ...

I commend Mr. Gerkin. This is a very important and significant issue. The high First Energy rates have long had a strangle hold on the local economy. If you want to look at a successful municipally owned system and its much lower rates look south to B.G. Every community surrounding Toledo should work with Toledo to make this happen - share the upfront cost burden now and reap the benefits in the long term. Those benefits would be huge. This fight with First Energy would be very difficult, but not impossible. There will be a lot of court delays and energy spent by the legal department.

I do hope that Mr. Gerkin reaches out to the the surrounding commnities. I hope that the surrounding communities see the benefits of getting onboard at the outset. The surrounding communities should look at the Department of Public Utilities and the comparative water rates for city residents and those paid by non residents. That should eliminate any hesitation on the part of the suburbs to participate.

In the past First Energy has been a campaign contributor to Betty Schultz.
posted by holland at 11:57 A.M. EST on Wed Jan 18, 2006     #

I forgot to add: First Energy is THE MOST MISMANAGED ELECTRIC UTILITY in the US. This is the outfit that took out power for most of the eastern seaboard and parts of Canada because someone tripped over an extension cord in Akron. They nearly had us all glowing in the dark because of a near hole in a nuclear reactor cap. They will fight this initiative with every reasource they have. Job preservation is a powerful motivator. And don't forget the impotent PUCO. They will rule in their favor regardless of merit.
posted by holland at 12:20 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 18, 2006     #

First Energy is THE MOST MISMANAGED ELECTRIC UTILITY in the US.


I would agree with that. I’m not sure that municipal power is the best way to fix it though. Wouldn’t it just be better to change the law that allows First Energy to recover stranded costs? If this were done, our light bills would drop by a third right away. This would put first energy out of business, but with the job first energy is doing, maybe it needs to go out of business.
posted by mike2004 at 10:52 A.M. EST on Thu Jan 19, 2006     #

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