Press Release

HARRISBURG – With more than 9,000 households entering the cold weather season without essential natural gas or electric service, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) is urging those consumers to contact their utility to help restore heat because of the colder than usual weather this year.

Every December, the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) releases its preliminary cold weather survey results. The survey shows that as of Dec. 10:

• 2,519 residential households remain without electric service, compared with 2,544 in 2001;
• 6,750 residential properties are without natural gas service, compared with 7,013 in 2001;
• At least 3,618 of the households without service are low-income customers, compared with 2,825 in 2001; and
• An additional 2,748 households are using potentially dangerous alternative heating sources such as kerosene, electric space heaters, kitchen stoves or ovens, fireplaces, or connecting extension cords to neighbors’ homes.

"The lack of utility service during the winter months poses potential health and safety hazards," said BCS Director Mitch Miller. "Customers without service run the risk of getting hypothermia or starting fires caused by makeshift lighting and heating devices."

Utilities will submit a final count of the number of households that are without essential service to the PUC on Dec. 13. The Commission will release those final numbers the week of Dec. 16.

The attached charts show the number of residential properties without service for each of the major regulated electric and natural gas distribution companies in the state.

Each year before winter, the PUC requires natural gas and electric utilities to check residential premises where service has been shut off to try to reach payment agreements with the occupants so that service can be restored.

The Commission asks utilities to make four attempts to contact the consumer or a responsible adult occupant at the properties where service has been terminated.  These calls include a combination of telephone calls and letters to establish contact, with the fourth attempt a personal visit to the property.

The Commission urges customers without service to contact their utilities for help. Anyone who knows of someone whose utility service is off should encourage that person to call the appropriate utility company right away. If customers are unsuccessful in making arrangements with the company to have service restored, they should contact the PUC for assistance through a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-692-7380.

In addition, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may have funds available to help eligible customers have service restored. Low-income customers should contact their utility for information about how to apply.

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 Internet homepage: http://puc.paonline.com.

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Preliminary Cold Weather Survey Results for Electric and Natural Gas Companies