Arizona Public Service proposes ratepayer rip-off

Arizona Public Service is proposing a rate package that includes “decoupling” — i.e.:

If approved, that would allow APS to collect a certain amount of revenue per customer regardless of how much energy was sold. Such plans essentially allow a company to earn more money for selling less electricity.

Wake up Arizona. Decoupling should be rejected because:

• Pay more, get less. Consumers will wind up paying more for less electricity;
• Rationing. Decoupling is the first stop on the pathway to electricity rationing; and
• Anti-capitalist. Through government guaranteed revenues, decoupling undermines fundamental and traditional capitalist business practices and incentives.

You can also judge an idea by its advocates. Obama energy and environment czar Carol Browner, a former muckety-muck with Socialist International, promotes decoupling as means of forcing consumers to use less electricity.