Picked up from the headlines of Arkansas Business-–how state legislators are raising more than eyebrows over a proposed $87.7 million rate hike.
The settlement, as we reported earlier in the week, would mean a more than 23% increase to residential ratepayers, or another $15.43 a month on average. State Attorney General Tim Griffin and some ratepayer groups signed off on the settlement.
But it wasn’t well received by Rep. Jeff Wardlaw who was quoted as saying it appeared the Arkansas Public Service Commission was letting Summit “run rampant.”
Two other legislators also offered critical comments, reported Arkansas Business. Rep. Jim Wooten said Summit’s “shortage of cash flow” should not be a burden for ratepayers while Rep. Fran Cavenaugh accused one executive at the Public Service Commission of “talking out of both sides of your mouth.”
The jump in bills isn’t a done deal. The three Public Service Commissioners won’t vote on the proposed settlement until Nov. 24.