A medida que los habitantes de Colorado siguen sufriendo el impacto de los precios cada vez que abren las facturas de luz, el volumen de llamadas a la línea de ayuda de Energy Outreach Colorado se ha disparado, superando las 16.000 llamadas semanales.

Michel Infante dirige el programa de asistencia energética del grupo. Dice que están tramitando más de 700 nuevas solicitudes cada semana. Pero la buena noticia es que hay ayuda disponible, incluso para las personas que han tenido que recurrir a los fondos del programa en el pasado.

"En EOC, queremos concientizar a la gente que está pasando por un momento difícil ahora, de que tenemos recursos para ayudarlos, asegura Infante. "Y no necesariamente tiene que ser gente que nunca haya pedido este tipo de ayuda."

Xcel Energy culpa la subida de los precios del gas natural de las elevadas facturas de los servicios públicos, pero sus beneficios brutos en 2022 fueron de más de ocho punto tres billones de dólares, lo que supone un aumento de más del diez por ciento respecto al año anterior.

El año pasado, más de 71.000 clientes de Colorado recibieron más de 87 millones de dólares en ayudas para el pago de facturas.

Quienes necesiten ayuda para pagar la factura de la luz, o que conozcan a alguien que necesite o corra el riesgo de quedarse sin suministro pueden llamar al teléfono de ayuda (866) 432-8435.

Si bien es posible que a los hogares de ingresos altos y medios no les guste el fuerte incremento en sus facturas de energía, la mayoría puede extender un cheque sin tener que recortar los gastos básicos, como vivienda, alimentos y medicamentos.

Infante dice que las familias que traen a casa cheques de pago significativamente más pequeños enfrentan decisiones difíciles y muchas no tienen ahorros de emergencia.

"Si a una familia con pocos ingresos que ya tiene dificultades le aumentas la factura de los servicios, tendrá que sacrificar una cosa u otra para poder mantenerse caliente en invierno," reconoce Infante.

Xcel afirma que las inversiones en energía eólica y solar, que generan electricidad sin necesidad de comprar combustibles fósiles, han reducido en 700 millones de dólares los costos energéticos que de otro modo habrían repercutido en los clientes.

Infante señala que el dinero destinado a ayudar a las familias con dificultades para mantener la calefacción encendida en invierno proviene de clientes anteriores y actuales, en forma de una pequeña cuota en su factura de servicios.

"Y esa cuota se destina a apoyar programas como este," dice Infante. "Así que nadie debería sentirse mal por pedir ayuda, porque todos estamos poniendo algo de nuestra parte y podemos tomarlo cuando necesitemos ayuda."

Air travelers could face fewer obstacles in securing a refund if their flight is canceled or changed under new federal rules announced Wednesday.

The moves are being praised by watchdog groups. The Department of Transportation said airlines are now required to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when they are owed one.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said some carriers have not adhered to standards, leaving passengers in a bind.

"They would drag their feet, and they would say, 'Well, you bought your ticket from a ticket agent, so we don't know where your money is. Or, here, have a voucher,'" Murray explained.

Amid higher complaint volumes, companies will be forced to act quickly. The new rules, which are being phased in, provide clearer definitions for travel disruptions, including delays of at least three hours on a domestic flight and six hours on international flights. A key industry group responded to the announcement by touting transparency efforts among carriers.

Murray acknowledged most people are not frequent flyers, and it is hard for them to keep up on all the least practices and policies among airlines.

"The average person only flies once every 18 months," Murray pointed out. "This will just bring transparency to that process and it kind of evens the playing field."

Murray added it could come in handy for Midwestern customers when a winter storm wreaks havoc on air travel. The new rules also require refunds for baggage fees when a piece of luggage is delayed by 12 hours or more for domestic flights. And there must be upfront disclosure on fees for first and second checked bags and carry-on bags.


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Wisconsin lawmakers recently debated reforms for payday loans. Efforts to protect consumers come amid new research about financial pain associated with cash advances offered through smartphone apps. The Center for Responsible Lending is out with findings that detail how "earned wage advances" from digital platforms come with extra costs disguised as things like tips. Traditional payday lenders are often criticized for charging excessive interest rates on loans that are usually around $500.

Lucia Constantine, a researcher with the Center for Responsible Lending, said customers are usually seeking smaller amounts from the apps, but she warns they can be just as costly.

"They are trapping consumers in a cycle of borrowing that is similar to that of a payday loan, " she said.

The report said after using these financial products, customers are seeing overdrafts on their checking accounts increase by 56% on average. Industry leaders deny they're barraging consumers with hidden fees, stressing that features such as suggested tips are optional. More broadly, a bipartisan payday loan reform bill in the Wisconsin Legislature failed to advance this month.

Constantine said like longstanding payday lenders, these cash advance apps can be hard to regulate. Meanwhile, she urged those in a bind to explore other options.

"[They should] try talking to their friends and family as a first source. The other option which I would recommend is reaching out to their credit union or banking institution to see if they can get some sort of small-dollar loan," she said.

She noted places such as credit unions typically provide more transparency on loan costs. According to the report, three-quarters of consumers took out at least one advance on the same day or day after a re-payment was posted.


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Food prices remain high, in Montana and across the country.

A new report by the Federal Trade Commission says the country's largest grocery companies are gouging consumers, by keeping prices artificially high.

Many grocers, retailers and wholesalers have consolidated to cut costs. Grocers continue to blame supply chain problems, even though regulators have said most of those issues have been resolved.

President of the advocacy group Farm Action, Angela Huffman, said retailers were doing more than making up for lost revenue during the pandemic-era supply chain disruptions - and the FTC report says they continue to do so.

"In 2021, the retailer revenues, they rose to more than 6% higher than their total costs, and that those profits are still going up," said Huffman. "So, in the first nine months of 2023, the profits increased to 7%."

At nearly 6.5%, Montana had the nation's ninth-highest grocery price increase in 2023.

The FTC data show Amazon, Kroger and WalMart each gained market share during and after the pandemic - while profits continued to rise.

Other large retailers and wholesalers have consolidated, which they say gives them more buying power and the ability to pass those savings on to customers.

Huffman said that isn't what's happening, and calls on regulators to fine the grocers, or more.

"This would be kind of the farthest extent of what they could do, but go so far as breaking them up," said Huffman. "In years past, they broke up the telephone companies and the railroads and, you know, that would be the ideal outcome for us, is to take away their excessive power."

Huffman also points to a 150% increase in egg prices in 2023, which producers blamed on the avian flu. The FTC says the disease did not justify the drastic price hike.