Who Loves JEA?

[ChriswUfGator]

I think she is implying that they all jump into super high paid executive jobs in military contracting companies.

that is exactly what I implied...and it certainly applies to some retired generals.

FYI...this is what happens when you choke government down to nothing....perfect example, FDOT....the agency is the same size it was in 1976, when Florida's population was less than half of what it is now.....the only way that worked is to have consulting firms do more of the work...is that really cheaper?

They will hire consulting firms regardless of their size. Consulting contracts have become politicized in FL.

And as far as army generals, WTF exactly does that have to do with handing out 6-figure salaries to a bunch of midlevel local utility management, when that is often the sole emolpyer or sole employer at that responsibility level on their resume?

Tufsu, please go down the list of JEA employees we posted, and highlight all these retired generals on the JEA payroll. Which will be difficult because there aren't any. Until then, quit muddying the waters.

[uptowngirl]

Isn't that the whole point though? People take lower paying, high responsibility jobs in government service. In some cases this is pure service, in some cases it is gain experience, in some cases it is to obtain an education/trade, and in some cases it is all of the above. When did going into government service become a way to make tons of money? That is the root issue, especially when that money is the tax payors.

Any company that is a monoply should have limits on charges and pay, JEA is not participating in free market, it's consumers do not have any alternative options other than  going without power and water.  Open the market up and the rules change.

[BridgeTroll]

Any company that is a monoply should have limits on charges and pay, JEA is not participating in free market, it's consumers do not have any alternative options other than  going without power and water.  Open the market up and the rules change.

The market is more open than it has ever been.  Virtually any place you live in the US of A you are stuck with the utility that services your zip code.  Very few if any power/energy consumers can pick between utility A,B, or C.  The advances in "alternative energy" at least now allow you to lessen your dependence on the grid and I suspect more and more will take advantage of that.

[uptowngirl]

Any company that is a monoply should have limits on charges and pay, JEA is not participating in free market, it's consumers do not have any alternative options other than  going without power and water.  Open the market up and the rules change.

The market is more open than it has ever been.  Virtually any place you live in the US of A you are stuck with the utility that services your zip code.  Very few if any power/energy consumers can pick between utility A,B, or C.  The advances in "alternative energy" at least now allow you to lessen your dependence on the grid and I suspect more and more will take advantage of that.

So I can have a different provider than JEA?

[tufsu1]

Tufsu, please go down the list of JEA employees we posted, and highlight all these retired generals on the JEA payroll. Which will be difficult because there aren't any. Until then, quit muddying the waters.

hey...I'm not the one who brought up military generals to start with

As for agencies hiring consultants regardless of their size, you are correct....in the case of FDOT this wouild likely happen for design of facilities....but you wouldn't need consultants to sit in the District and Central offices and be an extension of staff if they were sized properly to begin with.

[BridgeTroll]

Any company that is a monoply should have limits on charges and pay, JEA is not participating in free market, it's consumers do not have any alternative options other than  going without power and water.  Open the market up and the rules change.

The market is more open than it has ever been.  Virtually any place you live in the US of A you are stuck with the utility that services your zip code.  Very few if any power/energy consumers can pick between utility A,B, or C.  The advances in "alternative energy" at least now allow you to lessen your dependence on the grid and I suspect more and more will take advantage of that.

So I can have a different provider than JEA?

Just like 90% of the country... No.  But you most certainly can cover your rooftop with solar panels and erect windmills in your front and back yard.  20 years ago most people did not even have that choice...

[ChriswUfGator]

Any company that is a monoply should have limits on charges and pay, JEA is not participating in free market, it's consumers do not have any alternative options other than  going without power and water.  Open the market up and the rules change.

The market is more open than it has ever been.  Virtually any place you live in the US of A you are stuck with the utility that services your zip code.  Very few if any power/energy consumers can pick between utility A,B, or C.  The advances in "alternative energy" at least now allow you to lessen your dependence on the grid and I suspect more and more will take advantage of that.

Except, and this is the fact you keep ignoring because it submarines your viewpoint, JEA is taxpayer owned and exists solely to serve us, not the other way around. JEA carries obligations (well, on paper anyway, in practice is another story) that other utility companies do not. So these comparisons do not work.

[BridgeTroll]

There are taxpayer owned utilities all across the country... JEA is not unique in that regard.  Do you happen to know a zip code... any zip code... where you can pick between competing utilities?

[ChriswUfGator]

Tufsu, please go down the list of JEA employees we posted, and highlight all these retired generals on the JEA payroll. Which will be difficult because there aren't any. Until then, quit muddying the waters.

hey...I'm not the one who brought up military generals to start with

As for agencies hiring consultants regardless of their size, you are correct....in the case of FDOT this wouild likely happen for design of facilities....but you wouldn't need consultants to sit in the District and Central offices and be an extension of staff if they were sized properly to begin with.

Yeah I agree with you on that. We seem to be under the perpetual misperception that outsourcing is always cheaper. It's not.

[ChriswUfGator]

There are taxpayer owned utilities all across the country... JEA is not unique in that regard.  Do you happen to know a zip code... any zip code... where you can pick between competing utilities?

12 of the 48 contiguous states already allow this, BT. Believe it or not Texas led the way on this one;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deregulation_of_the_Texas_electricity_market

You don't really do much reading before digging your heels in on these arguments, do you?

[BridgeTroll]

The only relevant fact is that we own this utility, and we can decide how it is run, and who it serves.

Awesome... we can agree on this!  The ONLY reason I bring it up... is the persistent lamentations that JEA is a monopoly.  I am simply replying that virtually ALL utilities are monopolies... whether public or private... and that taxpayer owned utilities are hardly unique to Duval county.

I also mention that at least now... consumers can actually choose to go off the grid and supply their own power.

Good morning Stephen...

[BridgeTroll]

There are taxpayer owned utilities all across the country... JEA is not unique in that regard.  Do you happen to know a zip code... any zip code... where you can pick between competing utilities?

12 of the 48 states already allow this, BT. Believe it or not Texas led the way on this one;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deregulation_of_the_Texas_electricity_market

You don't really do much reading before digging your heels in on these arguments, do you?

just what do you think I am arguing??  I am not arguing anything...

[ChriswUfGator]

There are taxpayer owned utilities all across the country... JEA is not unique in that regard.  Do you happen to know a zip code... any zip code... where you can pick between competing utilities?

12 of the 48 states already allow this, BT. Believe it or not Texas led the way on this one;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deregulation_of_the_Texas_electricity_market

You don't really do much reading before digging your heels in on these arguments, do you?

just what do you think I am arguing??  I am not arguing anything...

Well I didn't say "successfully arguing" lol...

But OK, what have you been doing for the last 18 pages of this thread, if not arguing with people?

[uptowngirl]

There are taxpayer owned utilities all across the country... JEA is not unique in that regard.  Do you happen to know a zip code... any zip code... where you can pick between competing utilities?

Yep I do. In Abita Springs La (across the lake from NOLA) I had an option between companies.

http://toplocalpower.com/cheapest-electricity/louisiana/abita-springs

I chose the co-op and my bill was cheap too, nice side effect

[ChriswUfGator]

The only relevant fact is that we own this utility, and we can decide how it is run, and who it serves.

Awesome... we can agree on this!  The ONLY reason I bring it up... is the persistent lamentations that JEA is a monopoly.  I am simply replying that virtually ALL utilities are monopolies... whether public or private... and that taxpayer owned utilities are hardly unique to Duval county.

I also mention that at least now... consumers can actually choose to go off the grid and supply their own power.

Good morning Stephen...

As just shown above, not all utilities are monopolies.

12 states have already deregulated and residents can choose their provider. Expect this trend to continue.