[CrystalBrooke]

I swear, I have yet to see any of the politicians who have declared the economy is back on track, have any idea what the rest of us out here have to deal with. I just found out my electric company has asked for and received permission to implement a 12% rate hike!!!! Well, what about my salary. We don't get a raise this year but they can justify telling the electric company they can raise our electric bill by 12%!! I can't believe this is even happening! OK, rant over people. Go back to what you were doing.

[jason]

You want to talk about rate hike? Our water company was bought out. Went from a $50-60 a month bill to over $150. They are are also saying there will be a rate hike next year. And to top it off, I have gotten two letters since they took over, about a year ago, saying they recommend boiling the water due to contamination.

I really wish I could switch water companies. Even if I put in a well I would still have to pay them believe it or not. It is crazy.

As far as the economy, I'm not really seeing it yet. I will it will be stagnate for a while.

[Bella]

I live in southern Louisiana and we weren't affected too bad by the economy, but now we're being affected by the mess in the Gulf. That is going to have a negative impact for many years to come.

I can't believe what you guys are going through with your utility companies! That is just plain wrong!!

[alygirl]

Well at least you guys utility companies have to get permission from somebody to raise rates around here they just raise them at will and they have.

[craftymama]

I know what you mean, it is ridiculous. I see groceries and everything else going up. I think the economy has gotten a bit better but I think we have a long way to go to be recovered.

[Rampart]

My water bill just doubled, supposedly to pay for new pipes and such because they are old (which could be; this is an older part of town), but it's still a huge jump.

[alygirl]

Ours is going to go up again because we are getting some kind of new meter where the meter readers no longe rhave to get out of the truck they can just point some remote thing in the direction of the meter and read it that way.