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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Questar versus free speech
Somebody
needs to offer some good advice to officials from Questar Gas and tell them that free speech is a good thing.
It would seem obvious except that the ham-handed utility has created another public relations fiasco for itself. Questar has asked state regulators to change rules that would restrict individuals from full participation when rate increases are being decided.
Let's see now: Questar has a pretty sweet deal. It supplies a lot of gas to 800,000 Utah customers. And it periodically gets rate increases when the Public Service Commission OKs its requests.
The PSC is a three-member board, its members selected by the governor, that decides what rates utilities can charge customers.
One would think Questar would be very grateful for its customers, and willing to hear what they have to say. But no, the utility wants the PSC to make it more difficult for the "the little guy or woman" to take part in a rate hearing.
The facts are: Questar has always been OK with the PSC's long-standing rules allowing individuals to be a part of formal hearings. A person could look at all the documents and question witnesses. That right has not been exercised often, but it has always been there.
Recently, however, Roger Ball, ex-head of the Committee of Consumer Services -- the state agency that represents the interests of residential, small commercial and agricultural consumers in utility matters -- has for years been a thorn in Questar's ankle.
Ball, who was fired by Gov. Jon Huntsman, has actively been following some Questar cases as a private citizen. Apparently that has rankled Questar, which thinks these disputes could be more easily resolved without participation from Ball and other consumer advocates.
That's a bad idea. Frankly, we're glad that Ball is there keeping an eye on Questar for consumers -- since the Committee of Consumer Services hasn't been inspiring lots of confidence lately. We didn't think it was a good idea for Gov. Huntsman to fire Ball in the first place.
We appreciate the fine service Questar provides Utahns, but the company needs to allow all of its customers to have a voice in rate increases or other matters, not just those it doesn't think will pose a threat.
Besides, if Questar has the facts on its side for any request it makes, it will prevail before the fair-minded PSC.
We urge PSC members to reject Questar's request to stifle speech. Failure to do that will lead to a public relations fiasco for the PSC, as well.
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