Maryland Power Companies To Bill Customers For Lost Service

[Tx4obama]

WASHINGTON -- Power customers in Maryland will likely be fuming when they learn that electric utilities Pepco and BGE will be recouping lost revenue from the recent mass power outages from ratepayers.

According to WUSA-TV/9News, it's called "bill stabilization," which allows the electric utilities to bill customers for the electricity they weren't able to bill for during the outage.

Maryland is the only state where regulators allow utilities to recoup their losses directly from customers, the news station reports.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/11/maryland-power-bill-lost_n_1664769.html

[Zalatix]

1. Wow, that's Capitalism for ya.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. I suppose next they will want retro payments

from before they were born...

[Selatius]

3. Somebody paid a lot of money to convince Maryland's legislature to allow this activity.

With enough money, you can simply write your own laws.

[quaker bill]

4. A little more detail

Maryland officials say utilities are limited to recouping lost billings from the first 24 hours of the outage only, and that, when spread across the utilities' customer base, that could be less than a dollar for the utility's average user.

"To be technically correct, they can only adjust for that first 24 hour period," said Maryland People's Chief Paula Carmody. "After that they're not collecting any adjustment."

http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/212306/158/Pepco--BGE-Allowed-To-Bill-Customers-For-Lost-Outage-Revenue-

[MiniMe]

5. And where do I send the bill for the food lost in the freezer?

When I was without power for 5 days? I don't think this will go over well in the area.

[RandiFan1290]

6. FPL did this in Florida

after the hurricanes. The one thing we had to look forward to was a smaller electric bill. Then we get a notice that they are doing us the favor of basing the bill on the last month we paid.

How convenient

[HiPointDem]

7. you still have to pay when the power's out? well, that's about par. maybe the next step will

be just to shut down the grid altogether and still charge.

things are getting to that point.

[Agony]

8. Energy Cooperatives - why shouldn't the customers own the power company?

http://www.touchstoneenergy.com/about/principles/Pages/default.aspx

The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand represents a nationwide alliance made of more than 700 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states. Touchstone Energy co-ops collectively deliver power and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. Electric cooperatives distribute power for 75 percent of the U.S. land mass over 2.4 million miles of power lines.

Electric cooperatives were established to provide electricity to rural America, and now make up the largest electric utility network in the nation. Touchstone Energy is the national brand identity for that network.

Did you know Electric Cooperatives ...

Are located in 80% of the nation’s counties
Are the largest electric utility network in the nation
Total more than 900 local systems in 47 states
Have 42 million member-owners
Distribute power over 2.5 million miles of line
Serve 75% of the U.S. land mass
Own $130 billion in generation, transmission, and distribution assets
More than 88% of all local electric co-ops offer electricity generated from renewable sources.
What Makes Our Cooperatives Different
Touchstone Energy co-ops are owned by the members they serve and are committed to providing reliable electricity at the lowest price possible. In short, co-ops “look out” for the members they serve.

Touchstone Energy co-ops provide high standards of service according to their four core values: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

Touchstone Energy co-ops rank well ahead of their industry counterparts when it comes to customer satisfaction. Recent data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), one the nation’s most recognized measures of customer satisfaction, gives Touchstone Energy cooperatives an average score of “81” out of a possible 100, outclassing utility industry satisfaction score of “74.”

[measter29]

9. Buy from a different supplier and show the utilities they can't keep using us as ATMs

Hey there,
I worked for BGE and then Pepco for a few years. Can't say anything bad about the folks or the way they take care of employees. However, the amount of waste and overspending is ridiculous. Very little cost controls or budgeting concerns because their stream of income is basically guaranteed and quantified easily.

Anyways, in Maryland there are a ton of energy suppliers looking to earn you as a customer. Basically, BGE or Pepco (etc.) still supplies and bills you, but your supplier changes. So service and billing stays the same except the rate changes. Do your homework and look into the company you choose to do business with. I've read and heard about some companies with less than desirable business practices. For example, you are offered an attractive rate up front, then after the initial agreement, your rate goes up unless you remember to ask for the best rate available.

However, there are companies that don't take advantage of consumers and are building clientele by taking care of their customers. With that said, I found a Baltimore-based company called www.pointclickswitch.com

They are to energy suppliers like expedia or travelocity is to travelling. Except you become a client of theirs and they look out for you, where as expedia books you a trip and thats that. With Point Click Switch, whenever your energy agreement is up for renewal, they remind you and ensure you keep getting the lowest possible rate.

In Baltimore, I was paying 9.8 cents a kilowatt hour. My bill usually hangs around $150. Now I'm paying 7.35 cents a kilowatt hour. My bill is now just above $100.00. I've spoke to one of the owners of Point Click Switch and he answered a lot of questions and when my initial term ends in 4 months, I'm set to be renewed at 7.1 cents. No money out of my pocket.

I hope you guys find this helpful. If you saw the waste these utilities let happen, you'd be running to change your supplier.