The working poor always have and always will pay more than other people (with liquid assets). Outrageous late fees, super-large deposits, full price or variable price as opposed to discounts (so deposits are lost), etc. It's their way of keeping the working poor and fixed income people down "where they belong". This is from experience....I'm fully aware that utilities are getting rich on the backs of the poor. Did you notice also that many utility companies (especially those with no competition) spend millions of dollars on advertizing......WTF?
And no.....it's not fair...but nothing will ever be done about it because the vast majority of customers who can afford to get the discounts will never do or say anything against it to the "powers that be".