Press Release

PUC: Help Make Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21, a ‘Day of Utility Service’

Published on 1/18/2008

Filed under: Electric Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded Pennsylvania utility customers to make Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21, 2008, a “Day of Utility Service,” as well as a “Day of Service,” by helping people in their community to save energy and “Prepare Now” for winter heating bills.

Public service announcements continue through Monday, Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Day, as part of the PUC’s 5-year-old “Prepare Now” campaign.  A voiceover says listeners can contact the PUC by calling 1-800-782-1110 or logging on at www.puc.state.pa.us.

PUC Chairman Wendell Holland of the Public Utility Commission said, “One of Dr. King’s legacies was to improve the human condition.  And we think it’s important that, in addition to changing your light bulb and weatherizing your own home, think about helping a neighbor, change a light bulb at a church, community center or anywhere in your community.”

Commissioner Tyrone Christy said, “We have a number of consumer-outreach specialists that are here to help community organizations understand all these different ways that you can save energy and manage your utility bill.  Just give us a call here at the Public Utility Commission, and we'll be glad to come out and conduct workshops, seminars or just simply roundtable discussions about all the different techniques we have available here to help you manage your utility bill 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 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.                                                                                                                                           

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Contact:

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