DON'T CONFUSE BLACK REPRESENTATION WITH BLACK LIBERATION . . .

By Todd Elliott Koger

Our neighbors struggled in the cold without utility service this past Winter. A recent Biennial Report issued by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission "PUC" concluded that terminations for the electric and gas have risen to "record high levels." The use of public utilities pervades the life of every individual.

Act 201 of 2004, known as Chapter 14, went into effect on December 14, 2004, amending the Public Utility Code. Chapter 14 prohibits the PUC from establishing a payment agreement for customers who have defaulted on CAP (Customer Assistance Program) payments.

For non-CAP customers, Chapter 14 prohibits the Commission from establishing a second payment agreement if the customer has defaulted on the first.

The poor and low-income residents of Pennsylvania should be horrified by the hypocrisy. The utility companies have given lucrative campaign contributions for this legislation. I won't take a "penny" from special interest groups.

Each time a person walks into a heated room, eats food that has been either refrigerated or cooked, or uses a light that person is likely relying on some sort of public utility. The Public Utility Commission doesn't have the lives of poor people in mind.

Not only do they UNLAWFULLY allow the utility companies to extort from some a cash payment for the crisis grant (without the crisis grant LIHEAP won't issue its grant), utility companies can transfer the liability of unpaid utility service to any adult living in the household.