Inflation - Price of City Waste Stickers to Increase

Here are a few "inflationary" items to hit our unit owners and the association. I'll update this particular blog from time to time.

Garbage Stickers:
The price of the city garbage/waste stickers will increase effective July 1.

Currently the stickers are $2.92 each. The price will increase $0.13, which is about 4-1/2 percent, to $3.05 effective July 1, 2009.

Postage:
Another increase: US Postal rate for first class letter mail will go from $0.42 to $0.44 for the first ounce effective May 11, 2009. That is an increase of 4.8%.

Electrical Energy:

ComEd's new rates became effective January 15, 2009. According to the Illinois Commerce Commission, these rates were reported as being a 5.6% increase for the average residential customer. The rate increase will effect the unit owners and the association which pays the fees for common area and street lighting.

ComEd issued the following statement on September 10, 2008:

"While ComEd is committed to keeping rates as low as possible, we are also committed to providing our 3.8 million customers with reliable service. This increase is necessary to respond to higher infrastructure improvement costs and to support growing demand," said Anne Pramaggiore, executive vice president of customer operations, regulatory and external affairs for ComEd.
ComEd remains committed to keeping the lights on while looking for ways to operate more efficiently and generate sustained cost-savings, which directly benefits our customers.....In a time of increasing household costs, ComEd recognizes that rate increases can be difficult for many customers. So it is encouraging customers in need to take advantage of the assistance and education programs currently available.
As part of ComEd's CARE assistance programs, ComEd will distribute more than $18 million in assistance to customers most in need. Customers can apply for energy assistance programs through one of the local LIHEAP administering agencies. In Chicago and Cook County, customers can call 1-800-571-2332. More information is available at http://www.ComEd.com or by phone at 888-806-CARE (2273).
Plus, all residential customers can take advantage of ComEd's many energy efficiency and demand response programs, which help customers conserve energy and save money on their bills. ComEd's AC Cycling Program, the interactive Online Energy Audit and its program to provide compact fluorescent light bulbs at significantly reduced prices are among the different ways that customers can save money by using less electricity. More information on these programs, as well as additional tips and tools, are available at http://www.ComEdCare.com."