Customers in the dark
I have not heard a boo from council on my requests to have a press release issued on the cash grab on adopting a policy to reduce the electrical billing deferral from the date the meter is read to the day the billing is issued. The time delay in my case will be reduced from 34 days to 10 days. I personally will be charged with 42 days of electrical consumption in the month of March and in the month of April. Council is both deaf and blind when it comes to my request.
This policy change was obviously discussed behind closed doors at in-camera meetings where the press was excluded from attending. When the motion was presented at open council, you would have needed to be a mind reader in order to understand the effect that the motion would have on your pocket book. Disclosure to the public was non existent when this motion was passed.
Certain council members ran on a policy that council would be open and honest in dealings with the residents of Penticton. The penalty for failing to abide with this election promise should be that the $400,000 to $800,000 electrical cash grab should be transferred to the city operating fund budget to reduce 2013 property taxes. The net effect is that this cash grab will have a minimal 2013 cash effect on the Penticton taxpayers. On one hand, residential and commercial electrical users will incur an additional electrical charge of $400,000 to $800,000, and property taxes will be reduced by a similar amount, therefore no cash benefit to city coffers.
This is one year where the residential and commercial electrical customers are in a position of power; you will possibly have two elections (provincial and municipal) to voice your displeasure at the underhanded actions of council. Send council a message that you are not happy.
Email council (mayor@penticton.ca – all council members receive a copy) to voice your displeasure on how council and city staff have handled the above matter, you deserve honest and accurate disclosure on all city matters.
Ted Wiltse
Penticton
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