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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Illinois Power's tariff not just an environmental issue |
Current rating: 0 |
by Pauline Bartolone
Email: alice_redqueen (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!)
Phone: 384-0830
Address: Urbana, IL |
10 Mar 2001
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Illinois Power's tariff affects us on a personal, community, and statewide level. It also reflects the impact of a larger economic system. |
Illinois Power seeks to maximize its profit margin. As a means to this end, it aspires to cut down more trees to avoid continual vegetation management costs. In addition to these frightful consequences, the corporation seeks to supercede local governmental control over their management practices.
Contrary to popular belief, this issue is not just significant to environmentalists. Illinois Power’s vegetation management tariff infiltrates civic life on all levels.
The tariff affects us on a personal level.
IP’s tariff would enable the company to decide the fate of the vegetation in your yard. Trees on residential property could be cut down, without the permission or proper warning of the property owner. By losing the cooling effects of trees such as shade and wind breaks, every resident would suffer from decreased air quality, and higher energy bills. Property values would decrease due to loss of aesthetic value.
The tariff affects our community.
Illinois Power has an energy monopoly in the Champaign–Urbana region as well as other regions in its 15,000 square mile service district area. Unfortunately, the power company does not act in the interest of the communities of their 65,000 customers. Not only do the citizens not have a voice in tree management decisions, local governmental protection would be lost as well. The tariff would allow the company to do buisness unregulated by city government. Urbana- Champaign is a Tree City USA, nationally renowned for its ancient and beautiful trees. This characteristic is threatened by the prospect of aggressive tree trimming.
The tariff is a statewide issue.
Two other Illinois Power companies have already filed to intervene in the hearings in front of the Illinois Commerce Commission the first week of June. If IP’s tariff passes, it will set the standard for tree trimming practices statewide. If you reside anywhere in Illinois, the prospect of this tariff endangers the future of your trees.
The tariff reflects a nationwide trend.
Dynegy, the mega-corporation that owns Illinois Power, is stationed in Dallas, Texas. Not only does Dynegy own energy service providers in the Midwest, they also have branched out to the coasts. Dynegy played a role in the power crisis in California that was caused by deregulation. Meanwhile, Dynegy makes waves here in Illinois. Since Dynegy bought out Illinois Power in the past 5 years, tree trimming practices have become more aggressive. The company wants to cut back on trees as much as it takes to maximize profit.
Illinois Power’s conduct reveals a larger economic and sociological system.
Increasingly, energy companies are becoming more powerful as they are fueled by the whims of free market capitalism. Unregulated corporate behavior is a weapon against community welfare. We become dependent on profit seeking institutions that commodify our needs. When there is freedom to monopolize on regional energy service, is it fair to say that our freedom to choose how to meet needs is not in the people’s hands? IP’s motto tells us, "Illinois Power, Part of the Dynegy Performance Team." What I want to know is, in whose interest are they performing for?
For information on how to get involved in the campaign against IP’s undemocratic and brutal vegetation management tariff, call 384-0830 or email me at alice_redqueen (at) hotmail.com. |
