Job killing rate increases proposed by We Energies. Customers Shoulder Utility Construction, not Company Profits. Now that’s Free Market?

Here's what I can't understand:

Private energy companies continue to rake in the profits, all the while seeking rate increases to pay for building new energy sources like power plants and wind farms. What’s wrong with this picture? The biggest suckers are the customers who pay a little extra each month to fund green energy projects. I like the cause, but I don’t like the fact that it’s on top of the already built in increases to pay for the projects anyway.

And where are the Republicans, who like to scream “job killer” over the thought of higher green energy bills, when everybody's utility bill is going up 5 to 6 percent year after year?

jsonline: We Energies … customers have seen bills rise by more than 5% this year, with a typical residential customer now paying $105 a month for electricity. The power company said its decision is based on its increased investment in building renewable energy projects to meet the state's 10% renewable energy target. 

Most businesses REINVEST their profits into expanding their manufacturing and client base. Not so with monopolistic energy providers. They get to charge extra, while keeping their ever increasing share of the profits.  

The 12.7% profit the utility earns on its investment in the $2.38 billion coal plant has been a key driver in record profits the utility reported in 2010. With the second unit of the coal plant completed in January, 2011 will be another record year for Wisconsin Energy Corp.

So with profits like that you would expect stabilizing customer prices, maybe even lower bills, right?

By the end of the month, the utility is expected to file a detailed plan with state regulators to raise bills in 2012 and again in 2013.

Here we go again;  rate increases pay for construction, and energy company's keep their profits.

The funding plan would pay for the wind farm now under construction northeast of Madison as well as environmental controls being installed at the original Oak Creek coal plant.

Job killer?  Forcing granny out of her home? Never mind. (the same is happening at MG&E)