Citizens Gas isn't the worst choice, but all the slick thinking in doing the deal outside of the public eye, like as not, won't be as much of a boon as the little thinkers thought.

This administration seems to think like former Mayor Peterson's second administration did – cunning, but vacuous. How did that work out for former Mayor Peterson?

My $600 one month gas bill from Citizens' Gas includes a $155 “service and delivery” charge. When I asked them what this charge is they claim it is for admin costs and maintaining the lines.

Ok, gas lines are not expensive to maintain. They are like copper plumbing lines. My gas lines have not needed to be touched since I bought the place in 1998. And if they did, it is no more expensive than hiring a plumber.

By the way, Citizens Gas will turn your gas off in a heart beat if you don't come up with their service and delivery bogus charges. They'll do the same thing to your water.

Let's see Ballard do THAT if he wants us to think this isn't insider backroom dealing.

I don't think the 2002 deal is a helpful part of this discussion at all, except to learn from its good/bad points. But if it IS going to be discussed, I would insist that the facts be correct. Huber's, Ballard's, and now yours, are not. It wasn't a sterling deal, but it was what it was. For some reason, the Ballard folks have a huge chip on their shoudler about their predecessor. I don't get that. For God's sake they slayed the 800-lb. gorilla. They won. But they still take regular potshots at Peterson. It's just silly. Too often, it's inaccurate.

“Grown folks.” That's funny. Dig into the specifics. I am. So far, it doesn't look all that bad. But it needs to be sold to the public, and the first two days of 25th floor-led media hits have been very discouraging.

Try this: don't take anything that the 25th floor says as gospel…about this deal, or the 2002 deal. Ditto with any suggested modifications from the public.

Utility regulation is haphazard in Indiana, on a good day. Our “Utility Consumer Counselor's Office” is a sad joke. Under-funded and ill-equipped to battle high-priced utility lawyers/consultants. Do you know anything about that process?

So my top requirement is proper oversight of the new utility. I am comfortable with the CCC confirmation process for most of the committees and boards in this city. Both parties honestly try to do a good job there–they fail sometimes, but I don't think anyone woke up one day and said “How do I screw up the so-and-so-board?” I'll put my trust in that for the Citizens' board of trustees.

Your facts regarding the initial acquisition are wrong. Basically, the Ballard folks are re-writing history.

Look, I think this acquisition is probably a good idea. And I'm not even going to scream about the excessive legal fees that will likely piggy-back this deal. I won't scream mostly because, I don't know a soul on the 25th floor who can carry this water. It needs to be done correctly.

So, here are a few parameters for the proponents of this deal:

1. The Ballard folks need to stop re-writing history re: 2002 IWC acquisition. It is not helpful.
2. As part of No.1, they need to get over the Peterson mystique already. Greg beat Bart. We need to look forward, not back. And if we look back, it is disingenuous, at best, to re-create the facts about the original IWC deal. The deal specifics were broad and wide…the media, this blog included, haven't even begun to scratch the surface.
3. Explain in very real terms, with as much specifics as possible, the deal terms.
4. Allow for public input on those terms, and possibly modify some terms based on public input. There are some very smart citizens out there who cna be helpful.
5. Not all original thought began and ended on the 25th floor. In 2002, or certainly now.

Everyone take a deep breath. This deal has strong potential. Let's hope, for the mayor's sake, he sends soomeone out there to sell it who can do so with specifics, and without Peterson vitriol. That path is ugly and leads to zero success.

But if that's the way it goes, it won't fly.