Press Release

PUC Partners with Energy Utilities, Consumer Advocates to Launch Statewide Radio Advertising to Urge Consumers Facing Shutoffs to Call Utility, Seek Aid

Published on 2/21/2006

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that new statewide radio ads start this week, building on the successful “Prepare Now” campaign to inform Pennsylvanians about the availability of customer assistance programs and changes in the law related to utility shutoffs.

“It is not too late to ‘Prepare Now,’” said Chairman Wendell F. Holland.  “Some customers are receiving 60-day notices from their utilities in advance of April 1 terminations. And dollars still remain in utility customer assistance programs that could help families as winter bills arrive in their mailboxes through the spring.  That’s why we are enhancing the significant work already done by the PUC, utilities and consumer advocates to get the word out to consumers about high winter heating costs and their choices in preparing now.  I want to thank the utilities who came forward to participate, and the Council for Utility Choice and the PUC’s Consumer Advisory Council for their expertise and support.”

Utilities providing voluntary contributions to the $340,000 campaign include:  Allegheny Power, Columbia Gas, Duquesne Light, Equitable Gas, Met-Ed, PECO, Penelec, Penn Power, PG Energy, PPL and UGI.

“These ads contain a very important and still timely message:  ‘The law has changed regarding utility shutoffs.  If you have trouble paying bills, customer assistance programs may be available to help. But please, don't wait until service is shut off.  Prepare Now.  Call your utility company today,’” Vice Chairman James H. Cawley said.

After a similar message from a Public Utility Commissioner, an announcer says, “Prepare Now.  If you or someone you know has a problem paying utility bills, call [names of participating utilities per media market] and ask about customer assistance programs.”

“This campaign continues the PUC’s compassionate approach to helping families and seniors who need help paying their utility bills,” said Commissioner Bill Shane, who was the prime sponsor of Commission action in December to transfer nearly $15 million in unspent utility consumer-education funds to help low-income families in their service territories this winter using customer assistance programs.

Higher natural gas prices, production concerns caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and changes in the law related to utility shut-offs created a need to continue the Commission’s successful “Prepare Now” campaign to educate Pennsylvanians, particularly those with low incomes on how to cope with higher winter heating costs.  The PUC and the Council for Utility Choice first launched the “Prepare Now” campaign during the 2003-04 winter heating season under the guidance of Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli.

Since the Commission began its education efforts in September, about 29 percent of the people who entered the winter without utility-related heating service have had their service restored, or the property has been verified to be vacant.  The Commission requested that electric and natural gas utilities with more than 100 consumers without service be resurveyed as part of its Cold Weather Survey process.  As of Feb. 1, 2006, the total number of off accounts for those utilities decreased to 14,533, or 29 percent.

The Commission voted at the Dec. 15 Public Meeting to use voluntary contributions from electric and natural gas companies for a statewide consumer-education campaign on the availability of Universal Service programs and the changes in the law related to Chapter 14.  The PUC partnered with the participating utilities and the Council for Utility Choice to produce the new radio spots.  The Council, a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Commission, directed the ads.  Input was provided by the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, the PUC Consumer Advisory Council, the Community Action Association, the Pennsylvania Telephone Association, the Office of Consumer Advocate and professional educators. 

PUC public outreach staff continues to educate Pennsylvanians about changing natural gas prices, Chapter 14 and low-income programs at community events statewide.  The Commission also is a partner in Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s “Stay Warm” initiative, and has urged low-come consumers to “Apply Now” for assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program.

Chapter 14 was passed by the General Assembly as Senate Bill 677 and signed into law as Act 201 of 2004. It seeks to eliminate opportunities for customers capable of paying their bills to avoid doing so, and provide utilities with the means to reduce their uncollectible accounts.  The law changed the way regulated electric, water and major natural gas utilities handles cash deposits; reconnection of service; termination of service; payment arrangements; and the filing of termination complaints by residential customers.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.

  For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Contact:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov