Tallahassee Democrat
October 28, 2005
Letter to the editor
Earlier this month, Tallahassee residents received a rate-increase notification for their electric bills.
All of us are well attuned to the realities of the hurricanes and their unfortunate effect on our fuel supplies. Most of us are willing to implement energy-saving strategies. Some of us are car-pooling. Some are using less air conditioning and keeping more lights off.
When will our city leaders do their part? Many of us have become accustomed to paying bills electronically. E-commerce is a cheaper and more efficient means of providing services and paying bills. Yet despite the known efficiencies of electronic remunerations, the city is penalizing our citizens with a 3-percent increase when using technology to pay one’s utility bill.
Maybe I’m fresh off the turnip truck, but I think this is just wrong.
Online bill payments result in instant account reconciliation, reduced staff time, lower postage and help prevent bad checks. These benefits could go a long way toward lowering our personal utility expenses.
I am calling upon my fellow citizens to help change this arbitrary and capricious city policy. Together we can help keep our power needs low and the cost affordable.
J.R. Harding
jrfsu@comcast.net