As long as utility companies are granted monopolies or functional monopolies, consumers need some ability to push back against the use of rate hikes to pay for projects in advance that may never be finished. In Indiana they love doing this to us because they're guaranteed a fixed amount of profit per dollar they SPEND, so of course they make ratepayers make the initial investment too just to ensure as close to 100% profit as possible. Just because it isn't a tax increase doesn't mean it costs us any less. Give us the power to DO SOMETHING. It's hard enough out here.