BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council voted last night (Feb. 13) to give rebates to residents who have been shocked to open their utility bills.
The rebate would be up to 20% of a customer’s natural gas bill for a month.
Council members still have to decide whether to apply the rebates to January or February bills and exactly how high the rebate will be. They will take a final vote at a meeting that hasn’t been scheduled.
Natural gas rates more than tripled in January for Palo Alto customers.
“Our residents are looking for relief from a city that has had such a massive surplus,” Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims said.
Council voted unanimously to pursue the rebates, which came up during a discussion of the city’s budget.
Natural gas rebates would cost the city up to $3.4 million, depending on the structure, City Manager Ed Shikada said.
Council’s Finance Committee will talk in March about a second rebate for electric bills, which went up in December but not as much as natural gas.
Finally. How about giving us a rebate for BOTH months, especially since we’re STILL waiting for our court0-ordered settlement from the Miriam Green lawsuit against the city’s practice of “overcharging” us to feed their ridiculous spending? I’d like interest on that settlement since it’s so late.
Also, how about rescinding the 20% rate increase, the $50 monthly “:utility user fee” and the $30 a month “water connection” fee?? That costs each of us $960 a year.
Enough already,
Einstein said and I am paraphrasing ”Knowledge is nothing without imagination.” The CM and staff lack the latter. I am concerned at the lack of imagination regarding governance. Why is their such an indifferent and condescending attitude towards residents. The culture in city hall changed with Keane. Obviously there are some good people working in the city but utility gouging when we are flush is unconscionable.
Remember half this town are renters. PA is not a fiefdom where a lord rules. The CM and his planning department have to drop indifference and remember they are public servants.