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.