Good.
LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced she has signed emergency rules designed to protect consumers who least can afford the expected increases in home heating bills this winter. The Governor’s action to protect Michigan consumers came just one day after the major oil companies announced record-breaking profits while the nation was reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
“Just as we put on those extra layers for warmth in the winter, my administration will continue to fight for extra layers of security for our seniors, our working families and our most vulnerable citizens during a season that will see much higher energy costs,” Granholm said in her address.
The increase in energy costs stem from hurricanes in the gulf, short supply around the nation and increasing demand around the world, all of which can have a devastating impact here at home. The emergency rules will protect consumers who least can afford these sharp spikes in heating and energy costs.
In addition to comments made in her radio address, the Governor today said she is outraged over the record profits reported by the major oil companies this week.
“In September, I – along with several of my fellow governors – called on President Bush to act decisively in preventing oil companies from raking in profits at the expense of American consumers during a time of crisis,” Granholm said today. “We urged the President to move swiftly to cap corporate oil profits and strictly prosecute any violation of federal anti-trust laws, and take all other possible actions to protect Americans against profiteering. Unfortunately, the administration took no such action and the American people are paying the price.”
Granholm noted that the rules she signed today, originally proposed by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), will take effect next Tuesday, November 1 and continue through March 31, 2006 for retail customers of electric and gas utilities subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction.
The emergency rules call for the following changes:
• Lengthening the time between the date utility service bills are sent to customers and the due date, making sure people have more time to put a check in the mail;
• Preventing utilities from shutting off service or charging late payment fees for failure to pay an estimated bill by the due date;
• Prohibiting utilities from blocking services to seniors or those on fixed incomes to make sure vulnerable citizens aren’t put at further risk.
In addition to the new rules, Granholm has put the state’s natural gas suppliers on notice that MPSC will be watching their operations closely to ensure customers are receiving rates that are as low as possible this winter and led a bi-partisan group of 28 governors to ask Congress to fund a significant increase in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding.
I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Congress. They are too busy cutting food to the poor while they are giving big tax breaks to the energy companies. If we bug 'em, they might decide to cut more.