Stormy debate over greenhouse gases - Dianna Heitz - POLITICO.com

Stormy debate over greenhouse gases - Dianna Heitz - POLITICO.com:
By DIANNA HEITZ | 5/26/10 5:04 AM EDT
"The disapproval resolution, introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), has 41 co-sponsors, including Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Other co-sponsors include Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.).

The resolution, which is part of the Congressional Review Act, cannot be filibustered or amended. It also would need approval in the House and a presidential signature to go into effect. To pass the Senate, it needs only 51 votes."

SCE&G argues for rate hike - Business - TheState.com

SCE&G argues for rate hike - Business - TheState.com:

"The state agency, which represents consumers in utility cases, and several customers opposed to the rate increase have reached a series of agreements with the company calling for SCE&G to give residential and small customers $25 million in credits over the first year of the rate increase.

A second credit — $48 million — would go to all customers and would be spread over two years.
Those credits would delay the full impact of the proposed 4.88 percent rate increase until July 2012, SCE&G’s lead attorney Chad Burgess told the Public Service Commission on Monday.
If the company’s request is approved, a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity would pay $5.79 more a month."

MediaPost Publications AT&T Shrugs Off FCC Scrutiny, Hikes Early-Termination Fees 05/24/2010

MediaPost Publications AT&T Shrugs Off FCC Scrutiny, Hikes Early-Termination Fees 05/24/2010:

"It looks as if AT&T is daring the Federal Communications Commission to take stronger action on early-termination fees. In a letter to customers dated May 21, the carrier said it planned to raise the ETF on smartphones and netbooks from $175 to $325 starting June 1.
In the same announcement, AT&T conversely said it also plans to lower the ETF on basic and quick messaging phones to $150 from $175. Both changes apply only to new and renewing subscribers rather than current ones."

Congress to Review Telecommunications Law - NYTimes.com

Congress to Review Telecommunications Law - NYTimes.com:

Edward Wyatt

"Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said in a joint statement that they would hold meetings in June to examine how the Communications Act meets the current needs of consumers, the telecommunications industry and the Federal Communications Commission."

SCE&G argues for rate hike - Business - TheState.com

SCE&G argues for rate hike - Business - TheState.com:

"Over the past month or so, the Cayce-based company has cut that request by half to get more in line with the rate recommended by the state Office of Regulatory Staff.
The state agency, which represents consumers in utility cases, and several customers opposed to the rate increase have reached a series of agreements with the company calling for SCE&G to give residential and small customers $25 million in credits over the first year of the rate increase.
A second credit — $48 million — would go to all customers and would be spread over two years.
Those credits would delay the full impact of the proposed 4.88 percent rate increase until July 2012, SCE&G’s lead attorney Chad Burgess told the Public Service Commission on Monday.
If the company’s request is approved, a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity would pay $5.79 more a month."

SCE&G customers blast rate hike - Local / Metro - TheState.com

SCE&G customers blast rate hike - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

By JEFF WILKINSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com

"Before the public hearing on Monday, the utility announced that it had also agreed to limit its ability to raise rates again before June 2012.
The latest stipulation won over six of nine interveners, which are utility users who represent large groups of people or large companies. The six are the South Carolina Energy Users Committee, Wal-Mart Stores East LP, Sam’s East Inc., The Women’s Shelter, the Federal Executive Agencies and Frank Knapp Jr."

The Post and Courier - SCE&G readies case for rate hike - Charleston SC - postandcourier.com

The Post and Courier - SCE&G readies case for rate hike - Charleston SC - postandcourier.com:

Warren Wise

"If approved, the latest proposal would cost a household using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity about $5.79 a month, or $69.48, extra each year, when it is fully in place over the next two years starting in July. The original request would have cost customers about $140 over 12 months.

Rates would go up 2.5 percent in July, 1.2 percent in July 2011 and 1.18 percent in July 2012.

The proposed rate schedule includes about $25 million collected from customers during this past winter that would go back to them and another $48 million in tax credits.

The increased power costs would come on top of an already approved average annual spike of 2 percent over the next decade to pay the $10 billion cost of two new nuclear reactors north of Columbia."