Yup. Here It Comes: Angelinos Stunned

Business leaders in Los Angeles "stunned" at the proposed 22% increase in electricity rates to pay for "green energy."

This is a surprise?

And yet the US is swimming in natural gas currently selling at historically low prices.

Whatever.

I posted the above on the morning of March 25, 2010. The following was posted later that same afternoon by the Washington Times:

Gasoline prices have risen $1 since just after President Obama took office in January 2009 and are now closing in on the $3 mark, prompting an evaluation of the administration's energy record and calls for the White House to open more U.S. land for oil exploration.

The average price per gallon across the U.S. hit $2.81 this week, according to the Energy Information Administration. That was up from $1.81 the week of Jan. 26, 2009, just after the inauguration, and marks the highest price since Oct. 20, 2008. 

Just saying.

March 29, 2010: Update. Los Angeles city council supports 22% increase in utility rates on business -- just spread it out a bit. However, they do it, it's still a 22% increase in utility rates to pay for green energy, a solution to a problem that does not exist.  France knows that. And now Germany knows that.

March 30, 2010: Update. The Los Angeles city council proposed a 4.5% increase instead of the 22% increase. The mayor says he is concerned about the city utility being able to pay its bills without a bigger increase. The reporter says, without attribution, "A significant concern is the fluctuating cost of coal, which makes up 44% of the DWP's power." Yup. The cost of coal fluctuates between four (4) cents and eight (8) cents for a given amount of energy compared to 36 cents for same amount of energy generated by solar power, and who knows how much more wind energy costs, even if it were readily available. Yeah, that fluctuating cost of coal is a real problem. The only reason for such a steep increase is the crazy notion of "green energy."

And this is only the first step: "Tuesday's showdown is considered the first act in a series of electric rate hikes the mayor is proposing, which would increase residential bills anywhere from 9% to 28% over a 12-month period."

April 2, 2010: It's only getting worse.  But council members are asking the wrong question. They are fighting over rate increase between 4.5% vs 5.7% over three months (25% annual rate) instead of asking why the rate increase has to be so huge.

April 6, 2010: It continues to get worse. Mayor of Los Angeles plans to shut city agencies (except for police and safety) two days a week starting April 12, 2010. The city's department of water and power (DWP) refusing to hand over $73 million in cash as originally published.

April 7, 2010: Fever pitch?