My Galion bill

I just got my city bill (the electric bill) and this can not be right.

1st off the reading is “actual” according to my bill – I thought they quit estimating the bill because of so many complaints.

 2nd the rate is $.0845 per KWH? My mother-in-law pays $.0501 per KWH with AEP. What service do we get that is so much better than what they get – why is there such a drastic difference?

3rd what is the KWH-TAX $9.46 + CUSTOMER CHG $5.50 for? Come on this is out right theft and should be treated as such! What is the customer charge for? I know if you go up and ask at the electric office they can not tell you what it is for.

4th ELEC RATE STABILIZATION (RATE .08) –Isn’t our electric stable? What is this fee funding? Is this the Bill Bauer fee that was suppose to be removed after 5 years?

5th ELEC POWER COST ADJ. (RATE .020000) – Can anyone explain this? I call it smoke and mirrors but what the city calls it is cost adjustment – so we are not actually paying $.0845 per KWH we are paying $.1045 per KWH? If you do the math it is correct we are paying $.1045 per KWH.

Just electric my bill for the month is $242.15 this is insane! There is no reason the city of Galion should be RAPING us like they are! May be it is time to get a generator and be removed from the city’s criminal empire they call the electric company! At least give me the freedom to choose who I buy my electric from!

Go figure my water and sewer usage was “6” so I was charged $39.31 for water and $42.34 for sewer. I got my bill from 2005 out and my water usage was “6” and I was charged $26.66 for water and 28.33 for sewer – can you say inflation boys and girls? My wages did not increase 12% in the last 5 years. Storm sewer $5.00 today $3.00 in 2005 – I have yet to see any improvements in the way the rain water drains into the storm sewer – where is all that money now?

Well I feel violated now – oh if you didn’t do the math my city bill for the month of February is $328.80.

 

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 9:30am
You can't be serious, Toy has no problem announcing a private plant expansion in Galion possibly corrupting the entire process. Have the Covert family made any public statement - NOPE.

Toy doesn't own the city electric utlity, the citizens of Galion do. City council doesn't own the city electic utility, the citizens do.

The talk of electric rates going down, the Bucyrus paper today says they are going up. This is just the start, and this is only to pay for the EPA fines. Next comes the clean up phase and then the dismantling phase of the Gorsuch plant, which Galion city electric users will pay also for. But this is minor compared to what is really coming down the pike.

http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/article/20100915/NEWS01/915030...


KeithR said:
There are two reasons for silence on a governmental level:

First, because you are trying to hide something.

Second, because you are engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions which have a legitimate aim of resolving a situation, but which also require a degree of confidence that information will not be shared. This is what Mr. Toy has alluded to, and until one knows definitely otherwise, I don't believe that criticism is warranted and might in fact be harmful.
Permalink Reply by RUSSELL HENKEL on September 15, 2010 at 9:37am
I WENT TO COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT AND THIS WHAT I GOT,REMIND YOU THAT THIS THEM TALKING NOT ME,GOT IT,IF WE ORDER XXXX AMOUNT OF ELECT IN THE FUTURE AND WE ONLY USE X AMOUNT THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TO PAY FOR.... THE REST IS SOLD BACK TO THEM FOR $$$$$$ WHICH I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FOR, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE MEETING THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AND COULD ONLY BRING UP IN CITIZENS COMMENTS,I BROUGHT UP ELECT STABLITION RATES IN CITIZEN COMMENTS THEY SAID THAT WAS STILL IN STUDY,MR KEIB SAID IT WAS NOT FORGOTTEN AND WILL BE BROUGHT UP LATER,THE ONLY THING DISCUSSED REAL HEAVY WAS THAT OUR ELECT IS GOING DOWN .84 CENTS FOR USING ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS AND RETURING YOUR EMPTY ELECT BILL ENVELOPES IF YOU DO NOT USE THEM.WILL SAVE A LITTTLE[MAYBE.84 CENTS] FOR NOT HAVING TO PRINT SO MANY. I THROW THEM AWAY BUT LIKE A GOOD CITIZEN I WILL WAIT TILL I HAVE 12 OF THEM AND TAKE THEM BACK UP TO THEM,I PAY THERE BILLS ONLINE,DO NOT NEED ENVELOPES,OTHER THAN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG AND PRAYER THAT WAS IT. BY THE WAY I DO NOT LOVE MR TOY I AM NOT THAT KIND OF GUY,HE IS DOING HIS JOB,TRYING TO BE UP FRONT WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN AND THAT IS ALL THAT I CAN ASK FOR[MR OBHAMA DOES NOT TELL US EVERYTHING EITHER]I WOULD HAVE COFFEE WITH MR TOY BUT I DO NOT DRINK COFFEE[CAFFENE]AND GO TO THE BATHROOM......THANK YOU FOR READING.
Permalink Reply by RUSSELL HENKEL on September 15, 2010 at 9:45am
GO TO COUNCIL MEETINGS AND LISTEN WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY,SOMETIMES PART OF IT IS A WASTE OF TIME,BUT BEING INFORMED IS THE BOTTOM LINE. NOW I REALIZE SOME OF YOU CANNOT ATTEND BUT THAT IS YOUR BAD LUCK NOT MINE.
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 9:46am
They are not telling you the truth, they have no clue what they have done with these contracts with AMP.

RUSSELL HENKEL said:
I WENT TO COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT AND THIS WHAT I GOT,REMIND YOU THAT THIS THEM TALKING NOT ME,GOT IT,IF WE ORDER XXXX AMOUNT OF ELECT IN THE FUTURE AND WE ONLY USE X AMOUNT THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TO PAY FOR.... THE REST IS SOLD BACK TO THEM FOR $$$$$$ WHICH I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FOR, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE MEETING THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AND COULD ONLY BRING UP IN CITIZENS COMMENTS,I BROUGHT UP ELECT STABLITION RATES IN CITIZEN COMMENTS THEY SAID THAT WAS STILL IN STUDY,MR KEIB SAID IT WAS NOT FORGOTTEN AND WILL BE BROUGHT UP LATER,THE ONLY THING DISCUSSED REAL HEAVY WAS THAT OUR ELECT IS GOING DOWN .84 CENTS FOR USING ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS AND RETURING YOUR EMPTY ELECT BILL ENVELOPES IF YOU DO NOT USE THEM.WILL SAVE A LITTTLE[MAYBE.84 CENTS] FOR NOT HAVING TO PRINT SO MANY. I THROW THEM AWAY BUT LIKE A GOOD CITIZEN I WILL WAIT TILL I HAVE 12 OF THEM AND TAKE THEM BACK UP TO THEM,I PAY THERE BILLS ONLINE,DO NOT NEED ENVELOPES,OTHER THAN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG AND PRAYER THAT WAS IT. BY THE WAY I DO NOT LOVE MR TOY I AM NOT THAT KIND OF GUY,HE IS DOING HIS JOB,TRYING TO BE UP FRONT WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN AND THAT IS ALL THAT I CAN ASK FOR[MR OBHAMA DOES NOT TELL US EVERYTHING EITHER]I WOULD HAVE COFFEE WITH MR TOY BUT I DO NOT DRINK COFFEE[CAFFENE]AND GO TO THE BATHROOM......THANK YOU FOR READING.
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 11:27am
Every other community says these AMP contracts are a disaster the way they were written.

GALION CAN NOT SELL ANY EXCESS ELECTRICITY TO AMP OR ANYONE ELSE.

These are pay and use or pay and lose contracts period. Any other repesentation or statements coming out of city council is a complete crock.

It looks like Galionites wont believe it until you open your first electric bills after the Ilinois coal plant is up and running. Any company in Galion that is a heavy user of electric will pack up and leave elsewhere. It's not as if they're are not empty factories all over the state, with incentives to move and relocate to them.



Jeff A. Lehart said:
The fact that you believe everything they tell you is troubling. I have been trying to help people here in Galion and then when I stick my neck out I get it chopped off. I will not do that again. Russell you are one person who I used to look up to. I also got my information from the Ohio Citizens action committee who work on all things related to AMP. So my information might be a little better than you think. These people look out for those who are getting nailed by overcharging and possible fraud. The AMP contracts I got showed nothing of selling the energy back to them. I am not saying it isn't true I would like to see proof of it. These people have time and time again told two stories on the same issue and you are one of the more vocal about it yet you believe them at the drop of a hat. I have to say I am disappointed to say the least.
Permalink Reply by KeithR on September 15, 2010 at 11:36am
Anthony, please understand that I am not doubting the information you share as to the nature of the contracts which bind Galion and other communities. You may well be right on the money.

I will point out, however, that all contracts are subject to re-negotiation and revision, if both parties to them are willing to do so. There is literally almost no such thing as an agreement which cannot be changed, altered, or revised. I'm not saying that that happened here, I'm simply saying that it's possible.
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 12:43pm
That may or may not be the case.

The only way Galion can get out of these contracts is prove fraud and misrepenstation on the part of AMP. Since AMP knows the history of Galion utility purchases, they had to know that Galion committing itself to purchase 400% more electricity than it needs is fraud.

How AMP sold the projects to Wall Street Bond investors is that X amount of wattage would be sold daily, guaranteeing the investors of the bonds would get their money back. Any means or avenue by AMP to reach that goal on paper to show the bond investors this, was achieved and used. Former city finance director Mike Weiland is just one of several of the AMP communities that left their respective city posts in the communities they represented to go to work for AMP after the contracts were signed.

Quid pro quo ?

You bet it was.

Galion needs to sell the city grid and end the nightmare. Galion would never gotten into this fiscal mess if it wasn't for owning the city electrical system, and city council wants to continue digging the hole deeper.

Westerville, Oberlin, and Yellow Springs are the only communities to tell AMP to shove it and their contracts. The people there were engaged and demanded answers. Once they got the answers, they said NO TO AMP.

KeithR said:
Anthony, please understand that I am not doubting the information you share as to the nature of the contracts which bind Galion and other communities. You may well be right on the money.

I will point out, however, that all contracts are subject to re-negotiation and revision, if both parties to them are willing to do so. There is literally almost no such thing as an agreement which cannot be changed, altered, or revised. I'm not saying that that happened here, I'm simply saying that it's possible.
Permalink Reply by KeithR on September 15, 2010 at 1:14pm
Again, there is not need or requirement to prove fraud or misrepresentation if both parties are willing to renegotiate a contract. Jeff is right, the key point is "if" the other side is willing to do so.

One party to a contract desiring to keep a long term relationship with the other party is the type of motivation that might lead to that.

Again, not saying it's the case, just saying that it's a possibility.
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 1:39pm
I don't know, it could cause a cascading effect of all the other AMP communities wanting to do the same renogotiations.

Did anybody in Galion even question any these contracts when they were signed ?

Yellow Springs had a 5 hour council meeting where hundreds of people attended and spoke. The same in Oberlin when they shot it down.



KeithR said:
Again, there is not need or requirement to prove fraud or misrepresentation if both parties are willing to renegotiate a contract. Jeff is right, the key point is "if" the other side is willing to do so.

One party to a contract desiring to keep a long term relationship with the other party is the type of motivation that might lead to that.

Again, not saying it's the case, just saying that it's a possibility.
Permalink Reply by RUSSELL HENKEL on September 15, 2010 at 4:20pm
JEFF:I AM SORRY YOU FEEL THE WAY THAT YOU DO ABOUT ME,BUT LOOK AT THIS WAY WE ELECTED OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEY VOTED TO KEEP MR TOY AT $85,000 A YEAR BY A VOTE OF 6-1,I CAN NOT RUN UP THERE AND SAY I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT,WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO? THIS IS THE WAY A DEMOCRACY WORKS,I ELECT A PESON TO SPEAK FOR ME FROM WARD 3 IN GALION AND HE VOTES FOR ME[MY MOUTH PIECE] I DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY THING THAT IS GOING ON, BUT THERE COMES A TIME TO STOP AND LETS MOVE FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND IT IS A VERY SLOW PROCESS. TRUTH OR LIES I AM VERY VERY SORRY I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE GOOD DOCTOR BUT SHE BACKED OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.SOME PEOPLE AGREE SOME PEOPLE DISAGREE. THATS WHAT AMERICA IS.THE MAJORITY RULES I DO NOT LIKE IT EITHER BUT LETS MOVE ON. LETS VOTE THEM IN OR OUT,THATS MY RIGHT I SERVED FOR THAT. OVER IN RUSSIA IT WOULD BE A DONE DEAL. NO DISCUSSION , WOULD YOU WANT THAT?
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 4:30pm
When was the last time things were truly discussed in Galion ? It seems nearly every city council meetings every ordinance is passed via emergency legislation, meaning one reading in public then rubber stamped.

Russia, the old Soviet Union and Galion city council have a lot in common. Many and most things decided behind closed doors with a very feeble press ( PRAVDA ) that tows the party line as propaganda for the ruling elite.

But then you get what you are willing to endure, until you move away.


RUSSELL HENKEL said:
OVER IN RUSSIA IT WOULD BE A DONE DEAL. NO DISCUSSION , WOULD YOU WANT THAT?
Permalink Reply by Anthony on September 15, 2010 at 7:03pm
On August 28th, 2008 AMP - Ohio sold variable rate bonds to the folks on Wall Street based on the value of the Gorsuch plant to the tune of 98 million dollars. Now in less than 3 months from now that plant will be closed and deemed worthless.

Where did all this money go ? AMP owed zero on the plant as they bought it for practically nothing.

AMP - Ohio = ENRON

page 24

http://www.fmsbonds.com/pdfs/02765UBV5.pdf

Who do you think will pay this money back ? AMP wont, all the AMP communities will through higher electric rates.

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