Unaffordable rate increase

Thirty-one percent gas rate increase is being requested by Liberty Gas Co. The Public Service Commission held a hearing at noon Monday in Jackson for the public to have input as to the legitimacy of this rate hike. Five local consumers showed up to question a dozen or more state and Liberty personal upon the merit of this 31 percent rate increase. The current rate of $13.75 is being proposed to increase to $19.70 locally. Liberty likes to argue that it is only a 13 percent rate increase due to non-variable cost.

I pointed out that we are still suffering from the '08 recession and lingering high unemployment rate. Liberty covers areas south of us who are among the poorest economically due to low graduation rates and high teen pregnancies. Jackson residents are considered middle income, but we know that many among us are suffering from escalating costs such as the recent inappropriate property tax hike. Recent studies show that middle and lower income people have lost 30 percent of their wealth to the wealthiest 10 percent in this country between '09-'12. Local and all Liberty consumers can ill afford a rate hike at this time, especially odd considering gas cost now is among the lowest in history.

Another consumer pointed out with this kind of increase businesses will have to pass the increase cost along to the consumer who will be further damaged and unable to buy other goods and/or services therefore hurting a variety of businesses in this area.

BUD CRAVEN, Jackson