Elmar sent out a recorded message in which it explains that without WEB reducing its expenses, and cutting cost, Elmar cannot lower prices on its own. There will be grave financial consequences to pressuring Elmar to reduce rates without WEB pitching in.
As you know, utility prices went up nine months ago.
At the time WEB and Elmar got permission from the Minister of Economic Affairs to jack up their rates for a minimum of six months.
Some say for UP TO SIX MONTHS.
The changes were announced at the world’s most boring press-conference, with the dullest graphics. Alfredo Koolman and Anthony Irausquin were tasked with giving us the bad news that water and electricity rates went up, considerably.
The minister in charge of energy, logically responsible for telling us, was not available to spring the bad news. He was absent, and so were all other ministers, who don’t like to announce hardship.
The utility companies, right now the biggest obstacles on the road to renewable energy, Solar/Wind, continue to charge us sky high rates, while many believe are illegal, without permission, since six month was the MAXIMUM, not the MINIMUM, for the increase.
But the public hardly complains.
WHY? Because most of us reduced our consumption now that the air is cool and temperature moderate — I even sleep with a window open since December and enjoy a gentle breeze. But it is getting warmer, and CNN warns against extreme temperatures, in dangerous upcoming heat waves, and our consumption will grow, and the current increased rates still stand, with no plan for reduction in view.
Elmar’s video clearly puts the blame on WEB. WEB has to come up with a proposition, they said, Elmar controls its expenses well, WEB is the one that must adjust the price for which it sells electricity to Elmar.
According to Elmar, they maintain our grid, three admin buildings, 7 substations, and about 540 smaller distribution centers, and their BIGGEST EXPENSE, 80% of their revenue, is WEB, because WEB is the one selling electricity to Elmar and Elmar is ‘just’ a distribution company.
They totally focus on centralized fossil fuel energy, point fingers, maintain the convenient money flow into their coffers, change nothing, while in all honesty they must encourage/incentivize solar panels everywhere, on all houses.
If we produced our own energy, we will not require such WEB/ELMAR/UTILITIES overhead, it will cost us less.
Breaking news, in a letter dated today, WEB and Elmar were told that the burden that has been placed on the community with the increased rates should be lifted. As a public and state-owned company, WEB should be transparent regarding its current financial situation and provide us with the financial results of 2022 as soon as possible.
The letter was signed pending an invitation for a meeting by AHATA, ATIA, CUA, WAB, KvK, FTA, SEPPA, SADA, SIMAR, STT, ABV, OPPA, and SPA, as per a joint letter dated March 3, 2023.
BBO AT THE Border
CUA sent a polite letter to the Minister of Finance asking her to shed light on her plans regarding BBO collected on all imports at the border, which will negatively affect all company cash flows. But in reality, she has no plan, yet. Additionally, CUA sent out zero suggestions to the minister, which is a mistake.
All stakeholders MUST put on their thinking cap, and tell the minister exactly what they need/want, otherwise, the sole goal of the move will be to increase government revenue, with zero consideration of merchants and/or business interests.
AHATA, ATIA, KVK and AVVB, sent a detailed letter to the minister on March 10th, with helpful pointers for fear that by the time GOA announces its plan, the public will only have 10 minutes to respond, and there will be NO opportunity to tweak or suggest a different approach.
This is why the March 10th letter raised TEN important points, that perhaps none of the minister’s advisors thought of. The letter also asks for a meeting, BEFORE any decisions are taken. AHATA, ATIA, KVK and AVVB hope that transparency and inclusion are a priority, crucial, even conditional, to improved compliance.
CUA did not signed that letter, and we have to wonder why it decided to do its own thing, but did not really provide GOA with any convenient nor helpful suggestions.
