close

Utility shutoffs for Pa. Customers rise in 2005

2 min read

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Utilities shut off gas and electric service to Pennsylvania customers more than twice as often in the four months after a new law gave the companies greater power to terminate services to delinquent ratepayers. Utilities reported to state regulators that they shut off service to 46,623 gas and electric customers from January through April, up from the 21,839 terminations during the same period a year ago.

Pittsburgh utility Equitable Gas reported the largest increase, from two shutoffs in the first four months of 2004 to 3,287 in the same period this year.

Utilities pushed for the legislation last year, arguing that they were forced to charge more to paying customers to make up for the unpaid bills of those who did not pay. Advocates for the poor and elderly opposed the legislation, saying that it would remove protection for those who were trying in good faith to pay their bills.

“Things may get much worse,” said Harry Geller of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit group that advocates for low-income utility customers.

He said he was startled by the jump in terminations.

The law, signed Nov. 30 by Gov. Ed Rendell, allows utilities to shut off service without Public Utility Commission approval between Dec. 1 and March 31, but protects nonpaying customers who earn 21/2 times the federal poverty level – $23,275 for an individual – or less. That threshold is set at 11/2 times the federal poverty level for some customers of Philadelphia Gas Works.

Utilities previously were allowed to make such shutoffs only during the warmer months.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today