Post Tech - AT&T, Verizon get most federal aid for phone service

Post Tech - AT&T, Verizon get most federal aid for phone service:

Cecilia Kang

"AT&T and Verizon Communications were the biggest recipients of federal support from an $8 billion phone subsidy program, according to data released Thursday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Over the past three years, AT&T received $1.3 billion in funds to deploy phone lines to rural areas. Verizon got $1.27 billion in the same 2007-09 period.

Lawmakers and public interest groups are questioning the use of those federal funds, much of which appears to go to wireless services areas where telecom companies would be even without support. And they say the fund needs to be overhauled to focus on expanding broadband connections.

“Subscribers now pay close to 14 percent of their long-distance phone bills to subsidize scores of telephone providers in each geographic market, while other providers are serving the same markets without a penny of support,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) said in a statement."

Water Bills Still 'Too High' in Graniteville | WJBF–TV

Water Bills Still 'Too High' in Graniteville | WJBF–TV:

"Thomas Scott says that in Graniteville you can tell where people get their water, by the color of their grass.

'Well, mine is a dingy green, turning to weeds and pretty soon it will probably be gone,' said Scott.

He can't water his, because he gets his water from the Valley Public Service Authority who took over the water system after Avondale Mill decided to get out of the water business."

CBO boosts climate bill - Darren Samuelsohn - POLITICO.com

CBO boosts climate bill - Darren Samuelsohn - POLITICO.com:

Darren Samuelsohn

"The CBO analysis of the American Power Act, championed by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) found that government revenues would grow by about $751 billion from 2011 to 2020 if the bill became law. By contrast, the legislation would create direct spending of $732 billion over the same 10-year period."

U.S. Appeals Court Turns Down Moratorium on Drilling in Gulf - NYTimes.com

U.S. Appeals Court Turns Down Moratorium on Drilling in Gulf - NYTimes.com:

John M. Broder

"A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, ruled shortly after a hearing in a lawsuit filed by companies that claim they are being financially crippled by the suspension of drilling."

Members Against Rate Hikes Kicked Off PSC Board - Money News Story - WFTV Orlando

Members Against Rate Hikes Kicked Off PSC Board - Money News Story - WFTV Orlando

Now, two of those commissioners are out and Argenziano and Skop have also learned they won't be reappointed to the five-member board.“It's either the utilities get their way or you lose your job,” Argenziano said.Skop and Argenziano say state lawmakers were influenced by big power companies to leave their names off of a list of finalists from which Governor Crist has to choose his appointees.“Were you retaliated against?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.“I would say yes, absolutely. Not just retaliation, it is to say, to be honest with you, in my opinion, some people think they own the process and you don't own the people's process,” Argenziano said.

Lawmakers urge Energy Dept. to halt Yucca shutdown - The Hill's E2-Wire

Lawmakers urge Energy Dept. to halt Yucca shutdown - The Hill's E2-Wire:

By Darren Goode - 07/07/10 01:24 PM ET

"Sixty-seven representatives and 24 senators — led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) — argue the department “has overstepped its bounds and has ignored congressional intent without peer review or proper scientific documentation in its actions regarding Yucca Mountain,” according to a letter sent to Chu Tuesday."

At Con-Ed Nerve Center, Keeping the Lights On - NYTimes.com

At Con-Ed Nerve Center, Keeping the Lights On - NYTimes.com:

By PATRICK McGEEHAN

Published: July 7, 2010

"Con Edison, with an ability that might strike some as Big Brother-like, even exercised its ability to periodically shut off central air-conditioning units in some 20,000 homes and businesses to ease the burden on its system.

The scene inside Con Ed’s command center showed both the urgency of the utility’s efforts, and the nature of its reach — this was one of the few times it has adjusted residential thermostats from afar — as it struggled to cope with another record-setting day of heat and demand."

Weatherizing 82,000 Homes This Summer | The White House Blog

Weatherizing 82,000 Homes This Summer | The White House: "Through the Recovery Act, we are investing more than $11 billion to make homes and businesses more efficient and higher users of clean, renewable energy. This includes $5 billion to weatherize hundreds of thousands of low-income homes across the country. More than 240,000 homes have been weatherized since February 2009."

EPA issues new rule to reduce emissions - The Hill's E2-Wire

EPA issues new rule to reduce emissions - The Hill's E2-Wire:

By Darren Goode - 07/06/10 07:43 PM ET

"The draft, which could have implications for efforts in the Senate to reduce carbon and other emissions from power plants, would begin reducing emissions in 31 states and the District of Columbia quickly — in 2012.

It would affect coal-fired and all other fossil fuel-powered electric utilities, and the EPA says it would cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 71 percent and nitrogen oxide by 52 percent over 2005 levels.

The regulation’s price tag is an estimated $2.8 billion in 2014. But EPA officials say it would save between $120 billion and $290 billion in annual health and welfare benefits the same year and help prevent up to 36,000 deaths."

A Record 103 in New York City Tests Con Edison - NYTimes.com

A Record 103 in New York City Tests Con Edison - NYTimes.com:

By PATRICK McGEEHAN and FERNANDA SANTOS

Published: July 7, 2010

"While temperatures were expected to moderate some from Tuesday’s peak - which saw a record set at 103 degrees for the day in New York City - utilities warned that the length and intensity of this heat wave was testing the limits of the power grid."

The Item: News - Progress Energy bills get smaller

The Item: News - Progress Energy bills get smaller:

By Randy Burns, rburns@theitem.com

"More than 40,000 customers of Progress Energy in the tri-county area can expect to spend a little less money on electricity after the state Public Service Commission approved a reduction in rates on Wednesday afternoon.
The typical residential customer will spend about $1.75 less per month on electricity, officials said in a news release.
A customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month would see the bill drop from $100.90 to $99.15."

[Florida] Utility consumers lose big - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com

Utility consumers lose big - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com:

"Florida's utility consumers suffered a serious blow last week when the panel that approves nominees for the Public Serivce Commission rejected two worthwhile candidates with a meritorious track record.

Commissioners Nathan Skop and Nancy Argenziano, whose terms have expired, were seeking reappointment to the PSC. The PSC Nominating Council, dominated by state lawmakers, didn't even bother to show a sense of fairness in rejecting them, however. Neither one made the list of 18 applicants cleared for interviews next month"