23.       Newcomers to southern California are surprised to discover that, in spite of the temperate climate, heating bills are as high, or higher than, those in most Midwestern or eastern cities.

(A) as high, or higher than, those in

(B) as high, or higher than,

(C) as high as, or higher than,

(D) at least as high as those in

(E) no lower than

答案为D，不明白C为什么不可以

个人认为本题考并列

(C) as high as, or higher than, 虽然属于比较结构，但是缺少代词

若在后加those in可能正确

以上如有问题，请指正

根据OG11-86的解释:

Because more than x necessarily includes the sense of at least as many as x, it is redundant and confusing to use elements of both expressions...

我想这里的问题类似:

at least as high as已经包含了as high as, or higher than这两重意思, 所以C项不如D项简洁.

我不明白的是, E项错在哪里?