Rep. Peter J. Daley II (D-Washington), Minority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, Monday thanked key gas utilities in Pennsylvania for delaying service shutoffs by two weeks.
"The weather and skyrocketing heating bills have put consumers in a vise," said Rep. Daley. "I applaud the decision by Peoples Natural Gas/Equitable Gas and Columbia Gas to hold off implementing service shutoff rules that go into effect April 1."
Peoples, which recently completed a merger with Equitable, and Columbia said that they would delay the process of terminating natural gas service because of past due bills until April 14.
With the merger with Equitable, Peoples will distribute natural gas to about 660,000 customers in 19 Pennsylvania counties. Columbia Gas provides natural gas service to more than 417,000 customers in 26 Pennsylvania counties. Both utilities serve Fayette and Washington counties.
"I’m hearing that other electric and gas utilities are considering providing customers a two-week break on overdue bills," Rep. Daley said. "It would be a modest but meaningful gesture for consumers hammered by a harsh winter in a less-than-stellar economy."
In letters last week to the Energy Association of Pennsylvania and the Public Utility Commission, Rep. Daley asked for a two-week grace period on shutoff rules that kick in April 1 and allow gas and electric service terminations regardless of financial situations.
From December 1 through March 31, utilities may not terminate service for certain low-income ratepayers without the PUC’s approval.
"I think that the debacle of electricity rates almost quadrupling in some variable-rate plans this winter is another good reason to delay implementing the harsher shutoff rules," said Rep. Daley, noting that the PUC fielded almost 14,000 pleas from ratepayers, many on fixed incomes, about skyrocketing bills and suspect billing practices.
The House Consumer Affairs Committee has scheduled a second hearing on the variable electric rate issue for April 10. The hearing will be held in the Gold Room, Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant St., in Pittsburgh starting at 10:00.
The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will hold a hearing April 1 starting at 9:30 a.m. on variable electric rates.
