As state regulators prepare to decide in coming weeks who will bear the burden of a massive new electricity-rate hike, a long line is beginning to form of residents, business operators and others seeking a break. But other residents could see increases up to 36 percent, while commercial customers could pay even more. Homeowners say there's no way they can save that much. Advocates for the poor and elderly are crying foul.
Businesses say they're already unfairly burdened.
While regulators say almost half of households use no more than 130 percent of their baseline, many energy misers wonder just who those people could be. She's pushed the thermostat down to 67 and put blankets on every chair. She's turned off lights and limited her computer, TV and stereo. Utilities haven't yet calculated just how many residents would fall within the 130 percent. Estimates range from 30 to nearly 50 percent.