David, The moon will turn green before the Mayor and Council quit playing politics.

Remember these clowns were elected by someone.

You can level your own bill by paying extra during the spring and fall. DU will not mind carrying a credit balance for you.

Same here in Hartselle for some of us! If it's something you have to have and can't do without, whatever they charge you have to pay. So whatever it may be food, electricity, gas, etc., you have to pay whatever they decide to charge.

Decatur Utils already has a payment program. is this the same David Kelley that used to go to all the council meetings and complain all the time? if so... that completely explains this letter based on who wrote it.

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Perhaps the reason his utilities are higher in the winter is that IT GETS COLD. It's not the utilities fault. Also, more efficient HVAC systems, windows, insulation are the key to lower bills. Get that first before you blame the city and the utilities departments.

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from http://www.decaturutilities.com/customer-service/your-bill.html

Decatur Utilities offers budget billing. The purpose of budget billing is to avoid extreme bills associated by weather and pay an equal amount each month. Customers with no more than one late payment per year and continuous service at the same address for 12 months are eligible. You must come to our office to sign up for the budget billing program. Customers participating in our budget billing program are required to sign up for automatic bank draft.

The rates are the same ALL YEAR LONG. DU has changed electric rates once in the past 10 years. They don't "price gouge" at any one particular time of the year.

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Outlined above is DU's program for "even payments" all year long. Did you research this before complaining? I guess not. It's right there on DU's website. Have you called to check into it since reading about it above even?

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the real question is what steps have you done to help lower your utility bill? like using more energy efficient HVAC system, installing better insulated windows, etc. Currently you can get a tax credit for these on your yearly income tax.

You can also get a rebate from Decatur Utilities for changing out such items also, saving you money. http://www.decaturutilities.com/customer-service/rebate-programs.html

hmm... it seems that David Kelly's comment have been removed in between my posts. Interesting.

be nice if they actually read the meters like they are supposed to

I will admit they don't do that all the time. our water meter was covered in mud for 2-3 months and they didn't disturb it.

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finally read it 3 months later. our bill didn't get "Gouged" though. They know historically what houses use each month and can prob "estimate" the entire year. (unless a new family moves in).

Just to let you know Decatur Utilities has it's own Governing body and the city has no power as to what they do.

Hey David, why don't you ask Clint why he would allow your idiotic letter to be published in his newspaper in the first place? It contains unsupported claims of "price gouging". Your phrases such as "everyone's electric bill always doubles" and "most people here are on a fixed income" are so ridiculous that you letter loses any credibility you tried to establish. Why don't you respond here with some facts, such as the actual rates you feel have been changed?

The truth that Clint knows is this: DU, like ALL utilities, is a rgulated monopoly. That means customers don't have a choice as to whom they get their utility services from. That's makes DU a popular target for this kind of crap. That probably will not change. Reasonable people, however, know that it makes no sense to duplicate all the utility infrastructure that would be required to have a competitor in the marketplace. The other fact that you ignore is that DU has consistently had the lowest rates in the the Tennessee Valley for years. In October of 2011, they had their first rate increase in 14 years.

It is true that DU rates have not changed in 10 years. It is true that electric bills go up significantly higher in the winter. It is true they go up because of the very cold weather and people use more electricity to stay warm. We found the key was to switch from electric heat to gas heat in our home. Our gas heat is costing us about $45.00 per month. We only use gas for heat. So, $40 more dollars a month during the winter seems much less than double on electricity.

If David wanted something to whine about with price gouging with Decatur Utilities. he should ask the city council why EVERYONE in Decatur has to pay higher sewer rates so rich land owners off the beltline near hwy 24 are getting sewer installed for free (to them) in that area. (to promote development, but will make their land more valuable ).

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Who's paying for this? EVERY rate payer in Decatur Utilities. meaning almost ALL of Decatur citizens.

David would flip the feak out for real if he was on Joe Wheeler or westmorgan/eastlawrence water. I cant even begin to explain there rates...................