I feel your pain!

City utility companies have what is called a Value List. They add up what it costs to run the company, pay employees, etc. and divide the total amount between how many homes and businesses are in their city.

At one time, you could negotiate with the power company and get your monthly bill reduced. Suppose you are an old lady, with one dog who uses less than a family of five with two dogs. You should not be paying the same.

Since power companies now-outsource their functions they must pay the outsource company, too. It now appears the home owner/renter must pay two companies for what one company used to handle. Maybe a petition to expose this abuse would help?

This, in my opinion is fraud! This is another reason outsourcing is not cost-effective, rather a calculated way to rip-off the users and improve their profits. Government outsources correctional institutions to circumvent the constitution. It now appears outsourcing has infiltrated other business as well. In another era this could be called organized crime?