Council recommends 8 for Florida PSC appointments - BusinessWeek

Council recommends 8 for Florida PSC appointments - BusinessWeek:

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ

"Those recommended were Rep. Ronald Brise, D-North Miami; state Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs; and former state Sen. Curt Kiser, now the commission's general counsel.

Also recommended to the governor were Jacksonville City Council member Arthur Graham; Mary Bane, former PSC executive director; Connie Murray of Sun City Center, Fla., who served on the Missouri Public Service Commission for 12 years; Tallahassee lawyer Charles Ranson; and Kevin Wiehle, a legislative analyst for the state Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities"

Sewage spills on Saluda tributary - Breaking News - TheState.com

Sewage spills on Saluda tributary - Breaking News - TheState.com:

"Approximately 5,000 gallons of sewage leaked from a line near I-26 and St. Andrews Road on Wednesday, flowing into a storm drain that leads to Stoops Creek and the Saluda River.
The spill was reported by Alpine Utilities to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday, and e-mail notification was sent to members of the Saluda River stakeholders group Wednesday afternoon."

Senate turns back plan to block EPA rules - The Hill's E2-Wire

Senate turns back plan to block EPA rules - The Hill's E2-Wire:

Ben Geman

"The Senate on Thursday turned back a largely Republican plan to block Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greenhouse gas rules, voting 47-53 to stave off what would have been a major blow to the White House and the Democratic climate agenda."

Energy, Climate Change, but No Cap and Trade - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

Energy, Climate Change, but No Cap and Trade - Green Blog - NYTimes.com:

By JOHN M. BRODER\

"The latest proposal to deal with energy and climate change came on Wednesday from Senator Richard Lugar, a moderate Republican from Indiana. His plan seeks to cut energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions without creating a new market in carbon credits or taking a big bite out of the economy."

Clyburn Asks States for USF reform Help | Benton Foundation

Clyburn Asks States for USF reform Help | Benton Foundation:

"In order to free up current universal service money to fund a new Connect America Fund and additional Mobility Fund, the broadband plan proposes that the FCC phase out support for multiple voice providers over five years and that the Commission implement the voluntary commitments of certain wireless carriers that already have agreed to reduce their legacy support. It also proposes that current support be frozen; that the FCC consider moving rate-of-return companies to incentive regulation; and that the FCC adopt a framework for long-term intercarrier compensation reform that would create a glide path to eliminate per-minute charges over time"

Lexington County water, sewer bills rising - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Lexington County water, sewer bills rising - Local / Metro - TheState.com: "
By TIM FLACH -  tflach@thestate.com
Water and sewer rates are going up for about 65,000 homes and businesses as municipalities and other agencies make improvements described as necessary to handle development over the next generation."

The increases add as little as a dollar and as much as $7 to the typical residential bill each month — more for businesses.

Staying ahead of growth is vital to avert a crippling development freeze that lack of utility service would cause, officials said.

“We need to have inventory on the shelf,” said Steve Mann, general manager of the Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission. “In this business, you can’t wait until a customer comes in to buy it to use.”

The bill for the improvements is coming due simultaneously in several areas, since many of the projects are partnerships.

.....

Unlike some other utility rate hikes, those adopted by municipalities don’t go to the state Public Service Commission for review.

A larger share of the increases tends to fall on residents and businesses outside communities.

That angers homeowners in outlying neighborhoods, who claim they are gouged to keep utility bills lower for those who vote for local officials who set the rates.

Municipal leaders counter that it costs more to run lines and build plants to serve outlying areas.

Each community relies on consultants to design rate plans reflecting the cost of local service instead of setting them by whim.

Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/07/1320729/lexington-county-water-sewer-bills.html#ixzz0qBso1MwM