Davis Blasts Vectren Fee Hike Request
(Evansville, IN) Declaring that citizens have been squeezed too much, Vanderburgh County Treasurer and Evansville mayoral candidate Rick Davis today announced his opposition to Vectren’s proposed fee increase. The company last week asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to approve an increase of $1.08 per customer to pay for a $32 million project at its power plant in Posey County.
“Today I am sending a letter to the public utility commission asking them to deny this increase”, Davis said. “In addition to the burden it imposes, the increase fails to factor in the fact that the company’s operating costs will decrease as they use less coal to provide power with the new technology.”
Davis said that Vectren’s rates–the highest in the state–are already too high and criticized their demand for a guaranteed 7.3% return. “It is totally unrealistic of Vectren to demand a 7.3 percent return in this economy,” Davis said. “Families are struggling to make ends meet. Many people simply cannot afford yet another Vectren rate hike.”
Davis also questioned the fairness of the proposed fee hike. “Why should the person living in an apartment or small house be asked to assume the same burden as someone living in a mansion? It is simply not fair,” Davis said. “The person in the mansion benefits more from the use of less coal than the person in an apartment.”
Davis pointed out that Vectren’s high rates are undermining Evansville’s competitiveness as a place to live and do business. “Vectren’s rates have been escalating for the past decade to the level that they are significantly higher than our neighboring cities. It is time to put the breaks on this alarming trend because it is undercutting our ability to attract new business to Evansville.”
Davis said he plans to appear before the Utility Regulatory Commission to testify against the proposed rate increase when it holds hearings. Dates for such hearings have not yet been set. At the request of State Representative Gail Riecken, the Commission has indicated it will hold hearings in Evansville.
Davis also criticized his Republican opponent, Lloyd Winnecke, for failing to join in the fight against Vectren’s rate hike, noting that former Vectren CEO Niel Ellerbrook is a big donor to Winnecke’s campaign. Ellerbrook donated $5,000 to Winnecke’s campaign in the Primary Election and also hosted a fundraiser for Winnecke this summer.
Rick’s absolutley right, I’ve worked for Vectren since it was SIGECO and this is the first time I can honestly say I’m embarassed to tell people where I work
Bold talk coming from someone who took a check from the Vectren PAC.
if he did take a check from them it just proves he can’t be bought. unlike some other politicians
How much did he get? How much has Mr. Winnecke gotten? Perhaps it would be appropriate for both Mr Davis and Mr. Winnecke to return the contributions that they have gotten from Vectren and its officers? When will the fundraising disclosures be available? When those reports come out we will see whose influence that Vectren is willing to pay the most for?
Had they printed the entire news release you would know that Winneke has recieved $5000 from former Vectren CEO Neil Ellerbrook during the primary and that Mr Ellerbrook also held a fundraiser for Mr Winneke. I know of no monies recieved by Rick from Vectren which is not to say he hasn’t recieved any
The CCO published the fundraising reports from the primary period for both Mr. Davis and Mr. Winnecke in the spring. When the next round of reports are released we will publish them in complete form and anyone who wishes to do so can examine them to see who the candidates are being supported financially by.
The next reports are due on Friday October 21st so we anticipate posting them no later than the following Monday.
Oh,geepers,it is “brakes” not “breaks”.But that triviality aside, Can’t we all pay a little bit more to make Al Gore happy?
My total bill for August 2011: $ 628 (all-time high); total bill for September 2011: $ 655 (the new record only stood for one month). I believe that prior to this my all time high was something like $ 540 (and that was a Winter heating bill). Is anyone else seeing these back-to-back all-time-high bills ?
I have been to several events that both Davis and Winnecke were at and I have yet to hear Winnecke directly answer a single question. Even if Winnecke were to lobby against the rate hike we wouldn’t know it with his circle around the question answers that he gives. How about the citizens of Evansville doing themselves a favor and voting for one of their own, a man who is honest, intelligent and actually has some common sense which is totally lacking in our local government now. Vote for Rick Davis if you really want this city to go in a different direction.
If there is one thing we don’t need to do, it’s to “go in a different direction.” Winnecke will point this sorry town in the Right Direction. Electing Rick Davis means four more years of crony capitalism, Whiney-Zappel style!
And by the way, what did the Democratic Machine do in the last seven and a half years to hold down Vectren’s rates? There was not one Democrat who lifted one finger for one crummy second to oppose any rate increase!
Are you kidding me? Have you been paying any bit of attention? Rick Davis is NOT, and I will repeat it, NOT a Jonathan Weinzapfel crony. Rick is the exact opposite of the Democratic machine; he doesn’t rely on big-money donors and he actually goes door to door himself to listen to the people. Get a clue…Winnecke is nothing more than another empty suit bought and paid for by the likes of Vectren. Even if Rick did accept campaign money from Vectren’s PAC, he still did the right thing in publicly protesting their rate increase proposal. Where is Whine-ecke on this issue?
PICK RICK DAVIS FOR MAYOR!!!
I think It’s not the acceptance of money that’s problem; it’s rare to find someone still standing up to the wrong being done by the company/person (regardless the amount of contribution that may have been given), that’s the problem. Either way, thanks Rick. My bill is high enough w/o the rate increase. Went from paying to be warm to paying to keep pipes from busting. Heck during the winter my indoor anamals are still cold – and they come with their own fur coat!
Isn’t one of Winnecke’s campaign management team Josh Claybourn who is a Vectren attorney? Wasn’t he the kid that was bragging about the wonderful balloons at Winnecke’s announcement at Central.
Vectren subsidiaries are giving him money too. Christine Keck from the Energy Systems Group donated $1,000 to Winnecke during the primary.
Pretty sure Claybourn isn’t on Winnecke’s staff. But yes, he was the balloon guy.
First, I’m not on any “management team” for Winnecke. However I do think he is a great guy and have helped out when I can.
Second, I have never once commented on balloons. I said Winnecke’s announcement was professional, and even his most ardent detractors would have to admit that. Here’s the article:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/jan/22/winnecke-tells-600-evansville-needs-laser-focused/
Our community has issues like JOBS, METH, and a new stadium with no parking. Mr. Winnecke is the man with the integrity AND experience to lead us forward. If your argument against him needs to be shored up with comments about one of his supporters liking balloons, it might be that you are not familiar with the depth and the intricacies involved in being the mayor of our city of our size.
After being able to speak with all of our city candidates for this cycle, I can whole heartedly assure you that Lloyd Winnecke is THE only man qualified to carry the City of Evansville forward right now.. with or without balloons.
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