Letter: Author: Electricity is cheaper in Belmont
Thursday, October 13, 2005

Your recent editorial on "Bill would make town 'munis' easier" (Sept. 22 Minuteman) had me go back and look at my energy costs for my two ice cream stores in neighboring towns.

I have owned an ice cream store in Belmont for 20 years, and am serviced by Belmont Electric. My average electricity costs over the last three months were 7.5 cents per kWh.

One year ago I opened a store in Lexington of the same size, serviced by NStar. My average electricity costs over the last three months were 20.4 cents per kWh.

Why should a business in Lexington pay almost three times more than in Belmont for the same electricity?

The Legislature should pass Jay Kaufman's bill for all the reasons your editorial highlighted. Maybe one day I will pay the same for electricity in Lexington as I now do in Belmont.

Joe Rancatore, Jr.
Wheeler Road