Requesting an additional hearing to be held in the City on the request for a thirty-three percent rate increase

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RESOLUTION NO. 516 -76 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL HEARING TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND BY THE INDIANA PUB- LIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON THE REQUEST BY INDIANA AND MICHIGAN ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR A THIRTY -THREE (33) PER CENT RATE INCREASE WHEREAS, the Indiana and Michigan Electric Company has peti- tioned the Indiana Public Service Commission for a thirty -three (33) per cent across the board increase on utility rates; and WHEREAS, the thirty -three per cent rate increase does not include the additional fuel adjustment cost; and WHEREAS, the proposed rate increase would significantly affect all consumers both in the private and public section; and WHEREAS, as examples of the proposed rate increase the average home owner would experience an increase from $26.00 per month to $34.00 per month, plus any fuel adjustment increases; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend has budgeted $650,000.00 for electrical current expenses for the present calendar year which reflected a twenty -four (24) per cent increase over the 1975 budget; and WHEREAS, the proposed rate increase would require an addi- tional $214,500.00 to be budgeted for Street lighting alone; and WHEREAS, Indiana law requires the Public Service Commission to hear all controversial proceedings by conducting a full, fair impartial and adequate hearing of all facts and evidence; and WHEREAS, Indiana law specifically mandates the Commission to insure that the public interest be adequately represented by counsel at such proceedings; and WHEREAS, the public interest of the citizens of the City of South Bend will not be adequately represented at the public hear- ings to be held on April 14 and April 15 in Fort Wayne, Indiana NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend that: SECTION I. The Indiana Public Service Commission is hereby placed on notice that the public interests of the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana will not be adequately represented at the public hearings to be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana on April 14 and April 15, 1976. SECTION II. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, on behalf of all of its citizens officially petitions the Indiana Public Service Commission to schedule a second hearing in the City of South Bend so that all consumers in this locality may offer facts and evidence to insure that a full, fair, impartial, and adequate public hearing be held on the proposed thirty -three (33) per cent rate increase petitioned by the Indiana and Michigan Electric Company.