Veteran stood up for country, now standing up for consumers
January 25, 2010—US Army veteran Dave Freyling served his country while stationed in Korea and Germany.
Now the 71-year-old retiree is serving consumers and his fellow veterans by speaking out against a $130 million Ameren rate hike.
Freyling, Chairman of the Macon County Veterans Assistance Commission, recently addressed the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) at a bench session. He urged state regulators to reject the company’s rate-hike bid.
“If they raise the rates we’re gonna be in trouble,” he said, explaining that he and his wife are on a fixed income and already set the thermostat at 62 degrees in the winter. “I can’t cut anymore. A lot of veterans are in the same situation.”
Like many of his fellow veterans, Freyling said his “fixed” costs are constantly rising while his income remains the same, meaning he’s had to cut back on some of the things most important to him.
As a member of the Macon County Honor Guard, Freyling pays tribute to fallen veterans by attending military funerals. But with his fixed costs under attack, he can’t always afford the transportation costs.
“I just don’t have the gas to get there,” he said.
A former salesman, Freyling and his wife held steady jobs their entire lives. Then the recent economic downturn took a toll on their savings, putting them on a tight budget.
“Our 401k plan is now a 001k plan,” he said. “There are thousands of people in bad shape.”
Like Freyling, you can speak out against an Ameren rate hike by filing a comment with state regulators online, or by calling 1-800-524-0795.
CUB’s legal and policy teams are putting in long hours to make the case against Ameren’s increase. You can help us fight for you by contributing to CUB’s rate-hike defense fund.