CANTON, Okla. (KFOR) – Small companies within the metropolis of Canton declare they’ve been experiencing extraordinarily excessive utility charges just lately. Many companies doubling, tripling and over quadrupling in common charges.
A number of small enterprise homeowners advised KFOR since Summit Utilities took over late final 12 months, their payments have been skyrocketing.
Proprietor of Film Poster Service, Cleophas Wooley, who additionally occurs to be in town’s metropolis council, advised KFOR his payments common round $250 a month on the highest, however since new utility possession took over, his month-to-month invoice went from $214 in November to $628 in December after which $764 in January.
“The city of Canton has had double the variety of costs since Summit took over… I don’t know what to say aside from I feel it’s ridiculous. Some are simply getting wealthy and it’s not the ratepayers,” stated Cleophas Wooley, proprietor of Film Poster Service in Canton.
Wooley just isn’t the one one with excessive payments. A number of different companies within the space are actually struggling to maintain up with charges.
“It’s very regarding. Even our charges at our companies within the city have doubled. A few of them have doubled and tripled in the city. Even our fireplace division, our animal management, all of that,” stated Debbie Robinson, president of the Grand Artwork Council of Canton.
The town’s Vice Mayor and president of the Grand Artwork Council of Canton advised KFOR, Summit Utilities hit their non-profit group on the small theater on the town which supplies free reveals and flicks to their neighborhood. They received a invoice of $428 in January, after simply paying solely $43 for the month of December.
“We don’t flip it on if we don’t use it. However I can see our invoice greater than quadrupled and our solely revenue is our thrift store that we now have subsequent door, and by donation. So, that is devastating to our pocketbooks, our city and likewise to our neighborhood,” stated Robinson.
Debbie Robinson can also be a small enterprise proprietor herself. She stated her firm’s utility payments had been additionally over double throughout the month of January.
“Ours is often like $200 or $198, and our final invoice was $385… and we’re solely open 4 days per week,” stated Robinson.
Proprietor of a Mexican restaurant, El Charro in Canton, stated his utility payments common between $700 and $800, however he’s now seeing round $2,000 a month in utility charges.
“I simply hope, perhaps a commissioner or any person can do one thing about us holding an common utility invoice,” stated Carlos Delgado, proprietor of El Charro in Canton.
Summit Utilites advised KFOR, this spike is because of excessive gasoline prices.
“What they’re seeing, so far as a rise of their invoice is as a result of precise value of gasoline. It’s not associated to the acquisition of CenterPoint Power by Summit Utilities. Utilities are regulated by the SCC or the Oklahoma Company Fee… The price of gasoline is a commodity worth and it’s primarily based on market, market provide and demand,” stated Brian Bowen, senior director of exterior affairs for Summit Utilities.
Brian Bowen with Summit Utilities advised KFOR the pandemic together with Winter Storm’s Uri and Elliot have elevated demand which raised the worth.
“The price of gasoline and the rise that our prospects are seeing of their invoice is only a pass-through expense. So, our prospects pay what we pay for the gasoline,” stated Bowen.
Bowen additionally stated they’re seeing a downward pattern in the price of gasoline.
“We hope that that pattern continues in order that we will cross that on to our prospects,” stated Bowen.
Folks within the metropolis of Canton advised KFOR the spike is additionally affecting residents within the space, for some their payments have practically doubled.
Summit Utilities stated for those who’re wanting extra details about your invoice, you’ll be able to contact their customer support line and they are going to be comfortable to stroll you thru all prices in your invoice.
That data will be discovered right here.
The Oklahoma Customer support quantity is 1-866-275-5265.
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