For Immediate Release on October 4, 2011
From: E. L. “Lon†Walters, Candidate for City Council 2nd Ward
(812) 305-4768
lon@lonforcouncil.com
On Sunday, October 2, 2011, I started a petition online stating as follows: We the People petition the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to reject any rate increases to Vectren until the rest of the state catches up with us on pricing.
As I stated in my jobs position paper posted in the City County Observer in June that our Vectren rates are too high, and in my Chamber of Commerce interview last month, that our local utility rates are too high when compared to the rest of the state. The rates we pay are 50% higher than anywhere else in the state and more than double what they are in neighboring areas like Henderson County. One of the big reasons Toyota located in Gibson County was because of Gibson Power. The high Vectren utility rate is a jobs killer, and is a big burden to enticing new businesses to Evansville. We need to attract new jobs to the area and the people of Evansville are suffering from the high cost of their utility bills. I believe standing up and speaking my mind to the Chamber of Commerce about the burden Vectren rates are to creating new jobs cost me their endorsement. This is a non-partisan issue and one that everyone should support for the betterment of the city of Evansville.
The online version of the petition is available at:
http://www.webpetitions.com/petition/reject-any-vectren-rate-increase-until-rest-of-the-state-catches-up-with-us-on-pricing/8489/acdab2869be5a643f5ed50e5c2bb70a0
A written version is available for anyone who wishes to sign it. I will be at the Fall Festival all week with the petition if you would like to sign it. Just look for the person in the E. L. “Lon†Walters for City Council shirt.