This is Why Monopolies Are Bad.

As everyone knows, I have no love for corporations, and I particularly loathe companies that do business in a pseudo-monopolistic manner. Take, for example, utility companies.

Last month, I received my monthly utility bills, and much to my pleasure I had lower than expected bills. I had worked to be able to conserve both energy and money by purchasing energy efficient electric heaters so I could turn down my ridiculously expensive gas heat, and installed all of those nifty spiral shaped energy efficient light bulbs, new appliances, and so forth.

I worked diligently in conservation by multi-tasking my appliances so that they required less energy from constant start and stop use. I used my heat sparingly, only on the coldest mornings. I had my (main) electric bill come in at $130, and my gas bill was a super low $75.

The month of December was no different. Not in temperature, or behavior. I only used my heat about four times, a few hours in the mornings, and all day on Christmas. I only turned on my Christmas lights a week before Christmas, and used battery powered lights for everything but the front porch and tree.

This month, my electric bill came in at a whopping $260, and my gas bill shot up to $202. At closer inspection, I noticed that the bills went up due to a sizable rate increase.

Now here's the monopoly part of it, my utility companies are monopolies in my area. Both my gas and electric are part of one large company, and, they are the only companies you can use here. I can either purchase my power from them, go without, or create electricity with slaves and hamsters.

These companies constantly tell their clients to conserve energy, and yet every time we do, they raise the rates. To make matters worse, we must use their services. How is this remotely fair to consumers?

There comes a breaking point where everyone will either conserve these companies right out of business (while also being quite out of power and heat to do that) or, we will be stuck paying enormous rates, using only as much as we can spare, which is still too much.

This is why monopolies are bad. They have consumers by the gonads, and there is little we can do about it.

Keep in mind, friends, that this didn't happen until our state deregulated these industries in the name of "free market capitalism". Before this, we would experience rate hikes occasionally, but it was never out of control like this. The utility companies refuse to allow competition into the area, and yet are not required to exercise an ounce of control.

They are now averaging 3 rate increases per year. Our economy cannot support this, and yet the parent company, and the individual companies are making money hand over fist. (In case anyone is wondering, yes, I watch their quarterly profit reports).

This is gouging - and very concrete evidence to my assertion that free market capitalism with regards to necessary products and services allows for monopolies, and thus consumer gouging.

I have written once before to the state Attorney General about this, and I feel it's time to write again. Our governor must put strict regulations back on these companies, and force them to compete with other companies.

If they are not controlled sometime soon, I'm afraid we will literally be powerless.