More cowbell, less boogeyman

The HubCitySPOKES article critiques regulated monopolies JXN Water and Entergy Mississippi for failing to provide affordable and efficient services, drawing parallels between their operational failures and the resulting high costs for consumers. The piece focuses on the implications of Entergy's "secret Amazon data center deal," suggesting it will inevitably lead to higher residential electricity rates in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, despite the utility's claims to the contrary. Regarding JXN Water, the author, Kelley Williams, describes the system as being in a "death spiral" with rates significantly higher than neighboring cities and poor customer service. A Federal Judge, acting as JXN Water's CEO, is criticized for implementing further rate increases—dubbed "more cowbell"—which Williams argues exacerbate the problem rather than solving it, especially given the existing high charges and operational mismanagement. Entergy Mississippi's CEO, meanwhile, is accused of dismissing concerns about data centers driving up electricity rates, using a "less Boogeyman" argument to assure customers that rates will be lower with the data centers. Williams counters this by noting that residential rates in other states with data centers and monopoly utilities have risen much faster than inflation. The author expresses skepticism, especially since a state bill authorizing Entergy's deal with Amazon reportedly removed significant oversight authority from the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Williams concludes by rejecting Entergy's 20-year rate models as unreliable and condescending. The article highlights concerns that the predicted savings are likely illusory, given the historical trend of rate increases in conjunction with data center development in other regions and the lack of regulatory checks on Entergy's spending for the data centers.