New Haven Independent

Posted by: Joe | December 5, 2006 9:49 PM

Deregulation has boxed DPUC into a corner. The rates will stand and business and residents will get nailed. Deregulation is such a mistake. There is no open market. DPUC should be gutted.

Posted by: strangerthanfiction | December 5, 2006 11:29 PM

We know the property tax system is broken. We know the health care system is broken. But this beats all. The fact that our state government sat quietly for a year all the while knowing that our electric rates were heading for an off-the-charts increase is absolutely unconscionable. Whatever happened to solving the people's problems? What is it they do up in Hartford anyway? They made this problem by deregulating energy in 1998 and now they send out a distress call at the last hour!?

Posted by: Paul Wessel | December 6, 2006 4:22 AM

The saddest thing about all this is that the Governor and the legislature knew this was happening. Now, after the barn doors are open and the cows are fleeing, everyone starts running around, flailing their arms, saying "What can do to stop this?"

Pity more of the voters didn't listen to gubernatorial candidate DeStefano on this issue - he was right on about what was going to happen, that leadership was needed on the issue, and he offered it.

Hopefully we will live and learn....

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | December 6, 2006 8:26 AM

ok for some reason when read the articals about the hike this song keeps popping up in my head...
The wonder ball, goes round and round

To pass it quickly, you are bound

If you're the one, to hold it last

The game is past, and you are out!

looks like the people of Conn. have the ball.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 6, 2006 11:11 AM

It Would Have Not Made A Diference If John Destefano Would Have Become Governor, Both Of Them Are Puppets For The Corporatist Who Have Give Both Of These Charlatans Corp Money for There Campaign Coffins. If We The People Want to Solve This, Then We Must Find Other Means Of Cheap Energy Sources, Solar Energy? Also Have These Ceo Give Up The Big Bucks That They Make!! P.S You Better Start Watching The Water Company, I Hear That They Are Next In Line.

Posted by: Esbe | December 6, 2006 12:12 PM

The Governor's election strategy was to pretend that this wasn't going to happen, now she calls for an emergency delay. But her position is ridiculous: a short-term delay to discuss long-term solutions. Long-term solutions aren't going to help us in January and the delay is just a political stunt. If folks want electricity in Jan. someone is going to have to pay for it and delaying the decision won't change a thing, just provide the illusion of "doing something".

Posted by: strangerthanfiction | December 7, 2006 1:44 AM

This dramatically highlights the glaring flaw in Rell's leadership style -- she's reactive, never proactive. An 11th hour, bubble gum fix to a major problem like this is simply unacceptable when it was known about for a long time. Another reason for people and jobs to flee CT. Shame on you Jodi.

Posted by: nlgeconomist | December 11, 2006 11:01 PM

I don't see the problem here. This is a functioning market. If you don't want rate hikes, stop consuming so much energy. If the market needs prices to increase, it's only a reflection of increased demand. Better turn in those second cars, hop on the bus and turn off your plasma TVs. This isn't corporate America running amuck; this is the capitalist system working. What's the other option - parastatal organizations that can turn power on and off at will? Gas lines? I remember the '70s. Who wants to be stuck at home in the dark again... ? Take some of that equity out of those over priced homes to power that extra 2000 sq feet financed on the cheap. Because if a 38% rate hike in power is going to break the bank, then we should be worried about the larger issues of the soundness of our financial system as a whole. The state’s only concern should be putting in place a support program or cross subsidy for the poorest consumers. Make your political and personal stand by choosing to change YOUR OWN consumption habits – these local lawmakers are powerless against the industry and the global market.

Posted by: Brian | December 16, 2006 9:31 AM

There is a way it can be stopped...PRICE CONTROLS. the UIL stock was at 27 a year ago, now it is about to cross the $50 threshold. The problem here is that we have a market incentivized monopoly...their primary goal is to make $ for the stockholder, not serve the community.

I suggest everyone go out and buy UIL stock..by the thousands...millions...Is a corporate takeover by the people too much to ask, since the government won't do anything to break their stranglehold on all of us?

The Gov and her pals all talk about "a great environment for business..." how do we get that when the power company is allowed to act like a robber baron?