With rising costs and continuing job losses, utility companies across the state and the nation continue seeking rate increases.  Within the last year, OUC, the utility provider for the St. Cloud area has garnered approval for more than 14% in rate increases, which has been passed on to users. 

After taking a look at our newspaper office utility bills for the past year, and staffers reviewing their home utility bills for the same time period, we noticed significant changes in the monthly charges from one year to the next. 

Just like everyone else that lives in St. Cloud, we all pay our bill, but that doesn't mean we don't have an opinion. 

The publisher and senior staff would like YOUR opinion about this basic cost of living expense.  Please take a moment and answer the Poll Question at the top left corner of our web site and tell us what you think.  We will publish the results and some interesting facts on the topic soon.