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Press Release

Chairman Thomas Presents PUC Budget Request to Senate Appropriations Committee; Outlines PUC Priorities

Published on 2/6/2002

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

HARRISBURG -- Presenting the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) budget request to the Senate Appropriations Committee today, Chairman Glen R. Thomas outlined the PUC’s priorities for 2002.

Chairman Thomas ranked high these priorities: continuing to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Utility Choice program and educating consumers about competition; conducting a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure security, as mandated by House Resolution 361 and the Governor’s Security Task Force; and focusing more truck inspections on Pennsylvania’s high-accident corridors and on truck drivers.

Chairman Thomas also gave lawmakers an update on electric, natural gas and telephone competition.

"They say a picture says a thousand words," Chairman Thomas said. "Today, I would like to use words -- and a few numbers -- to paint a picture for you of how competition is changing Pennsylvania:

  • "Nearly 120,000 Pennsylvanians now choose to purchase green power – more than any other state in the nation. Every Pennsylvanian served by a public utility has the option to buy renewable power;
  • "Next month, nearly 500,000 residential customers in the Pittsburgh Region will see their electric rates go down by 17 percent -- due to electric competition;
  • "Twelve percent of Pennsylvania residential customers are now shopping for gas. In some areas of Southwestern Pennsylvania, that percentage is 35 percent;
  • "Thanks to telephone competition, nearly 1 million Pennsylvania homes and businesses are choosing competitive local phone service;
  • "And, because of competition, 325,000 Pennsylvania homes and businesses receive local phone service from their cable company.

"Competition is improving Pennsylvania as a place to live and work. Consumers have more choices, and technology is advancing at a rapid pace -- thanks to the hard work of the General Assembly. And we at the PUC work hard to build on these successes."

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.

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Chairman Thomas’ complete written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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