PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act coming under fire
by stephen donahue Thursday, Jul. 28, 2005 at 4:26 PM

State Rep. Dwight Evans launches an inquiry and Gov. Rendell is "unhappy" with the bill

Here is an update from the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project concerning: Act 201 of 2004 a.k.a. Senate Bill 677 a.k.a. Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act.
The first six months have seen the effects of the legislation to be even worse than anticipated:
• At least five people have died as a result of service shut-off related tragedies
• There has been a dramatic increase in the number of water shut-offs.
• More than 20,000 customers who contacted the PUC for assistance were immediately turned away.
• Medical Certification procedures and the protections they provide are in disarray.
• Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands have been subject to unaffordable deposit and payment arrangements.
The 4 most troublesome provisions of Chapter 14 are:
Winter Shut-offs,
Unreasonable payment arrangements,
Unaffordable Security Deposits, and
Elimination of the 48-hour notice

These unprecedented hardships are now being noted and some political backpedaling is taking place.
PA House member Dwight Evans from Philadelphia is launching an inquiry into this bill.
A number of legislators are beginning to look at amending the law to do away with the most offensive of the provisions. One legislator has written the Governor requesting that he convene a summit on this matter.
The General Assembly will be reconvening in September.
******NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT PA SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERS AND DEMAND THAT THEY REPEAL CHAPTER 14 – RESPONSIBLE UTILITY CUSTOMER PROTECTION ACT.*****
Call: Senator David Brightbill @ (717) 787-5708
Senator Robert Mellow @ (717) 787-6481
House Speaker John Perzel @ (717) 787-2016
Rep. Samuel Smith @ (717) 787-3845
Rep. William DeWeese @ (717) 783-3797