State Officials Looking At Rise In PG&E Shutoffs - up 40% for low income customers

[Kadie]

Dec 16, 2009 7:33 am US/Pacific
State Officials Looking At Rise In PG&E Shutoffs

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― It's lights out for many more utility Customers this year. Pacific Gas & Electric said shutoffs are 18 percent higher this year than last.

"Utility rates are breaking the backs of hard working families," said Sam Kang of Greenlining - an advocacy group for low-income families. He believes the number is actually twice as high as PG&E said.

In any case, the California Public Utilities Commission has decided forced disconnection of power is an urgent problem. The commission is calling an emergency meeting Wednesday in San Francisco to ask the power companies what they're doing about it.

"All we're asking for - especially for low income families - is to keep the Christmas tree lights on. To keep the house warm when the kids wake up on Christmas morning," Kang said.

PG&E said it always gives people several chances to work with them on a payment program. And although the number of low income customers whose electricity has been shut off is 40 percent higher this year than last, a spokesperson said that's because the company is enlisting more low income people in - CARE - one of several assistance programs.

"We know that there are more customers that are eligible for our financial assistance programs that are not taking advantage of the programs," said PG&E spokesperson Nicole Liebelt. "So what we really want to do is help, get out there, get those customers educated on what kinds of programs we do have available for them."

more...
http://cbs13.com/local/pge.shutoffs.investigted.2.1373186.html

[tularetom]

1. When we're all broke, they can't sell power to anybody

They won't even be able to pay anybody to go around and shut off meters.

So since we're obviously headed in that direction, they might as well just give us all free gas & electric right now.