In "The Most Obvious Solution" Aug. 8, New York Times syndicated columnist Bob Herbert argued that a combination of conservation and energy efficiency is the most immediate solution to our energy crisis. But he worried about those who do not have the money to weatherize their homes and thus benefit from lower utility bills.

Mr. Herbert is right on both counts. And his comments are relevant to a related issue: the rate increases for our region recently proposed by the Equitable Gas Co.

In a letter to its customers, Equitable announced increases of 10 percent for residential consumers, 2.9 percent for commercial consumers, and 5.4 percent for industrial consumers. Such an increase will have a disproportionately negative impact on residents such as myself: renters living on a modest income.

I rent an inexpensive apartment with poor insulation. I cannot upgrade the energy efficiency of my home to offset the increased rates requested by Equitable. And I don't know if my already tightly managed budget can absorb a 10 percent increase in utilities.

The notice I received from Equitable did not explain why the increase is necessary, which leads me to believe that it is probably not. Has the cost of producing natural gas increased as much as the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel? How much profit does Equitable currently make?

Residents need to ask those questions of the Public Utility Commission as they weigh Equitable's proposal.

MIKE HOLOHAN
South Side

Is anyone surprised that UPMC Children's Hospital has pulled the plug on its 25-year agreement with West Penn Hospital to assist fragile newborns? ("West Penn Says Children's Broke Deal On Newborns," Aug. 7).

Obvious to any observer has been the UPMC bottom-line objective to create a monopoly on regional health care.

Dr. Gary Silverman's characterization of West Penn Hospital as providing "inferior service" is lamentable rhetoric used to label and marginalize a great community hospital to advance that goal.

With its outrageous profit margins, UPMC just looks like the big bully on the block pushing a little kid around. It was a stupid PR move to pull sick babies into their war on competitors. In the end, it well may backfire on Children's Hospital's fund-raising efforts.

JULIE SEIFRIED DILLENBURG
Mercer