[Menge]

Very true, but I wouldn't blame the utilities for understanding the basics of the US.

This model is really the US standard to screw lower social classes that plays out elsewhere, i.e. credit cards as the national payment system instead of payer initiated direct transfer like in most(all?) of Europe.

Richer people will tend to have strategies and resources (i.e. the money and rights to modify their residence, control over their work schedule, etc) to pay bellow average which will make them richer. People under stress will have to pay whatever the spot rates are.

This is the only defensible position for businesses as the ones with resources and time to invest in organization are the ones who have the resources to use the political system as a tool against anyone who would have them pay their full share.