Then I reviewed my notes and wrote my comments over again to take with me. Wow, it was hot when I left home-- must have been in the 90's and humid. But nary a real rain storm at all since I moved here.
When I found myself on the grounds of the local performance venue known as Presser Hall I could see people still arriving and walked across the grass to the front door. A young man from Fair Energy Rate Action Fund (FERAF) handed me a sticker to wear on my shirt. Then he pointed me to the sign-in sheet for speaking. The front hallway was busy with people, and as I entered the large theater I saw a fair sized crowd scattered over the rows of seats, mostly toward the front.
The person right ahead of me on the testimony list was Robin Acree, whom I had met before, so when I walked down to find a seat she waved at me, "Hi Pat!" Fenny, who had called me that morning was right behind her with Robin's mom. We were glad to see that many people there.
In a few minutes, about noon, the Public Service Commission staff, the Administrative Law Judge and the Ameren staff were introducing themselves. Also present was Public Counsel. the voice of the People, representing us. Robin asked him if he could explain how much his budget is now. It had been cut from $1,000,000 to $475,000, so she was admiring the work they do with a much smaller staff. The Ameren spokesman was presenting his case for the Corporation. One member of the staff of the PSC explained the process to us.
Quite a few questions were asked to the Ameren representative, who seemed something like a sales person to me, but did his best to provide courteous guidance. And others in the room were able to respond as well. I kept wishing that many of those questions would be brought up in the actual sworn testimony, but I suppose some people were shy or hesitant for some reason to speak up in that way.
When questions had been answered the audience members were all encouraged to testify as well, while one of the Commissioners and the Administrative Law Judge, Morris Woodruff, were then onstage to begin swearing in witnesses.
So several people, mostly the elderly who are on limited incomes, came up to the microphone to be sworn in and to testify, the most important part of the proceedings.The witnesses showed a lot of courage describing their own circumstances or opinions.
I knew that I would be following Robin, which helped me with confidence. And here is what I spoke out about, as close to accurate as I remember-- because I said I will read the note that I had written, but I interjected a couple of comments along the way.
My
Comment to the Missouri Public Service Commission
RE:
Ameren Rate Hike Request
August
23, 2012 Mexico, Missouri
As
a longtime customer of Ameren who moved to Mexico about three months
ago I oppose any rate increase at this time. Economic and
environmental concerns are my main points. First of all the economy
is still depressed and many of your customers are not yet working.
Your most recent rate increase of 9% was granted in July 2011. With the heat of this summer your current income is certainly higher than average.
We actually pay more for electrical power than what is on our bills. Perhaps
Ameren could review their business plans and consider how much they
cost their customers and the government in health care expense and expense to the environment
related to the burning of fossil fuels. Here in Mexico Ameren is using
an oil turbine. Oil is also a fossil fuel. Most of the State of
Missouri is running on coal. As a member of Sierra Club and friend of
Beyond Coal and Labadie Environmental Organization I expect Ameren
to publicly assert a plan to convert to sustainable energy. In
Labadie, Missouri Ameren has ash pits on the Missouri River flood
plain. It is really just plain ridiculous!
I
think that a utility company should behave like a good citizen. Wind
and solar are reliable businesses in this State and already up and
running. Why would we want to continue to subsidize Ameren's income
on our own backs while they cannot recognize that climate change is
here right now?
Thank
you for this opportunity to speak.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seemed to be the last witness, but fortunately anyone else who wanted to testify was invited, and one woman who spoke out is someone working for a nonprofit agency with the many folks who are often unable to pay their bills, depending on Dollar Help and other resources through her. She just told the Commissioner and Judge, after they asked her some direct questions, "Just say no. Just say not to Ameren about this rate hike." Wow, I was helped by hearing her statements!
Good citizens of Missouri, you can still testify to the Public Service Commission in writing!
Comments will be open until the whole case is closed, and the next step is the formal evidentiary hearings in Jefferson City which will begin September 25, so you have at least that long to get your comments in.
Here is an online form for submitting testimony.
Here is more information if you prefer to write your comments on paper and mail them in, and it gives some guidance on comments too.
http://www.mo-opc.org/Local%20Public%20Hearings/Consumer%20Guide%20to%20LPH.html
http://www.mo-opc.org/Local%20Public%20Hearings/Consumer%20Guide%20to%20LPH.html
Whole Foods Market is attacking the Organic Consumers Association again. They say we're too "hard-line" for insisting that they stop selling, or at least start labeling, so-called "natural" foods in their stores that are laced with unlabeled, hazardous genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. 
The Organic Consumers Association was among 450 organizations and businesses who joined together under the "Just Label It" banner to file a legal petition urging the Food & Drug Administration to require clear labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Polling shows 80% of CA voters support labels on genetically engineered foods. They want the right to know what they're eating and they're going to have the chance to win it at the polls in November 2012.
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, 17 states introduced legislation to label GMOs.
In 2012, whether we're talking about getting antibiotics out of animal feed or labeling GMOs, we're fighting harder than ever. With the 2012 California Ballot Initiative, and GMO labeling legislation gaining momentum in Vermont, Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii and other states, we have a real chance to hit Monsanto with the skull and crossbones they fear so much - mandatory labels on genetically engineered food. We also plan to step up our efforts to strengthen organic standards and significantly expand the market for organic food and products, especially those produced locally and regionally.
On January 24, Monsanto shareholders gathering for their annual meeting were greeted by 50 protesters calling for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) to be labeled in the marketplace. While "Occupy-Monsanto" events are becoming more common worldwide, one activist working on behalf of socially responsible shareholders took the anti-GMO message deep inside the inner circle of Monsanto's highly paid executives and recorded the encounter. A newly released hidden video is available for unrestricted use by the members of media at 
, received a comment from a