Compromise and coal companies in today’s letters to the editor.

Pick of the day: Lawmakers have defanged the SCC

Recently, a Riner reader complained of feeling robbed by energy bills (“Feeling powerless against power costs,” Dec. 6 letter). The law written by our utilities, passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor in 2007 is primarily responsible for electric bill increases.

The utilities convinced them the State Corporation Commission had been treating them unfairly. Through this law, various studies and inquiries, our elected officials significantly reduced the authority and flexibility of the SCC.

Electric bills are increasing because of a lot of factors, but consumers cannot blame the SCC. The only way to rebalance the influence of consumers and utilities is to do what the utilities did: Complain long and hard about the outcomes to the only people who can change them, our elected state senators, delegates and state administration. Speak up.

IRENE E. LEECH

President

Virginia Citizens Consumer Council

ELLISTON