Press Release

PUC Calls on Pennsylvanians to Make Martin Luther King Day a ‘Day of Utility Service’

Published on 1/9/2008

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today continued its 5-year-old “Prepare Now” campaign with new public service announcements urging utility customers to make Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21, 2008, a “Day of Utility Service,” as well as a “Day of Service.”

PUC Chairman Wendell Holland of the Public Utility Commission says in statewide radio ads beginning today:  “Martin Luther King Day is a Day of Service.  The PUC wants you to help us make January 21st a Day of Utility Service.  Replace a light bulb in your house or community with a new energy efficient fluorescent bulb, adjust your thermostat or weatherize your house.  Save energy.  Save the environment.  Change a bulb on Dr. King Day.”     

A voiceover says listeners can contact the PUC by calling 1-800-782-1110 or logging on at www.puc.state.pa.us.

Commissioner Tyrone Christy’s message includes the following:  “Contact your local utilities to help a needy friend or neighbor enroll in budget billing or sign up for programs that can provide funds to pay bills or winterize homes.  We're here to help at the PUC.  Give us a call, and we’ll come to your community or organization to talk about the many ways you can manage your utility bills -- and ‘Stay Warm.’” 

The PUC has consumer-outreach specialists who provide utility education and outreach to consumers.  The outreach team reaches out to consumers by regularly traveling throughout the state, conducting or participating in workshop events, free seminars, and roundtable discussions and community fairs.

Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli said:  “It’s never too late to help a neighbor in need prepare for winter and higher heating bills.  Learn ways to reduce energy and water usage in the new year.  Encourage others on limited incomes to contact their local utility about programs that can help pay bills or weatherize homes.  Help others to ‘Prepare Now’ and ‘Stay Warm’ by learning more and sharing tips on energy efficiency, conservation and weatherization.”

Radio and print advertisements supporting this effort are funded by the PUC’s current budget.

This consumer-education campaign relates to two other PUC outreach efforts:

• On May 17, 2007, the Commission entered a Final Order (Docket No. M-00061957) outlining the need for a statewide consumer-education campaign to prepare electricity ratepayers for potential increases, as well as provide information about energy efficiency, conservation and demand side response.  The PUC has directed its Office of Communications to convene interested stakeholders to develop a statewide consumer-education campaign to prepare electricity ratepayers for potential increases, as well as provide information about energy efficiency, conservation and demand side response.  The Commission’s Final Order indicates that “the statewide campaign would be funded by a $5 million assessment collected from [electric distribution companies].”  The Commission said in its Final Order that funding requests will be made as part of the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget request to the Governor and the General Assembly.

• The PUC’s “Prepare Now” outreach campaign urges all consumers to learn about ways to cope with higher winter energy costs; and appeals to consumers on limited or fixed incomes to call their utility about special programs such as Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) and Low Income Usage Reduction Programs (LIURP) to help heat their homes and pay their energy bills, and budget billing, which allows consumers to pay similar amounts each month. 

The Commission also is a partner in Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s “Stay Warm” initiative, which is a Web site that lists resources and programs that are available to help people pay home heating bills, and provides weatherizing information and conservation tips. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.                                                                                                                                                         ###

Contact:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov
• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722