By Jeff Dow

Picayune

This is in regard to the article of Saturday, Dec. 2nd. 2017, front page titled “Mississippi utility inks deal on troubled $7.5B power plant.”

Once again, we (the customers) keep hearing again about Mississippi Power Company and how much the customers will have to pay.

Apparently, that price has been reduced by $85 million after the shareholders absorbed $6 billion in losses.

The most notable part of this article is that “customers could soon pay less than they’re currently paying for the part of the power plant that burns natural gas.” 

“Could” being the key word here.

Customers have been paying 15 percent higher rates since 2015 for the part of the plant that burns natural gas.  “Friday’s settlement, if approved, would mean a slight monthly decrease in those rates,” the article states.

We can only hope this happens.

“They (opponents) note that Mississippi Power’s rates are still high compared to neighboring utilities.  Last year, Mississippi Power charged residential customers 50 percent more for electricity than Entergy Mississippi, the state’s other privately-owned electric supplier, according to U.S. Energy Department data,” as stated in the article.

We (the customers) should thank the Public Service Commission and others for their continuing efforts in helping to curb Mississippi Power from charging us for more for a service than we should be charged.

NOTE:  If Mississippi Power charged customers 50 percent more for electricity than Entergy Mississippi, then how much have we (the customers) been overpaying compared to other utility companies.

In recent times, I have compared the actual kilowatt cost of Coast Electric to Mississippi Power, and yes, Coast Electric was cheaper than Mississippi Power.

Maybe someone could investigate Mississippi Power and find out why they charge more for their product, and then find out why the other utilities are cheaper.  My thoughts still run toward Mississippi Power trying to recoup lost revenues on the Kemper Plant.  If this is what they are doing, then I ask that they do not use the customers to finance Mississippi Power’s losses.