Are The Power Companies Ripping You Off?

   Of course they are, you and I both know that. My problem is not with what I am paying for the power usage, but with the other “ add-ons “ tacked to the bill.

    We here in Tampa are serviced by only one power company and that would be TECO (Tampa Electric). Guess that it is pretty nice to be a monopoly here in this area.

   In the bill which arrived in the mail today was one of those forgettable little pamphlets that outfits are always throwing in with the bill itself. Usually, I toss the thing into the trash,but I decided to take a look at it this time around. Surprise! $104.90  power bill. No big deal there right? I think that that is pretty cheap for this time of year. My attention was directed to the extra fees and such.

  Gross Receipts Tax: $1.78

  Franchise Fee: $3.52

Those are nothing to be concerned with, but, this one got me!

   Customer Charge: $10.50

   Just what is this charge? According to this little pamphlet:

      “ The monthly customer charge covers the cost of maintaining your electric meter and the wires that bring electrical service to your home or business. “

    It also covers their cost to send someone out to read my meter,and maintain my customer records.

    So, in a nutshell, I am paying them an extra $10.50 for services that should be coming out of my power bill itself. Are they now charging me extra for their costs of doing business?

   I’ll have more on this after I get a chance to speak with someone at the company.

 

 

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