Ohio lets utilities hike reconnection fee

Since this is a day in which the sun rose in the east and will set in the west, utility companies have demanded a fee hike - and Ohio's so-called regulators have happily let them help themselves to it.

PUCO - Ohio's regulation body - recently allowed utility companies to nearly double their reconnection fee from $20 to $36. Because utilities wanted it, you see.

Consumer advocates are outraged - especially because of all the disconnections resulting from the recession, which in turn was caused largely by the same brand of corporate greed behind the fee hikes!

This is of course the same PUCO that cut off the public's access to city streets - against the city's wishes. In Puke-O's world, taxpayers can't even use their own roads, but utility companies can do what they want.

All this while utility companies often illegally shut off power to houses while they are being sold - just so they can charge the reconnection fee.

(Source: http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=31767571.story)