Regional utilities sending more shut-off notices
Published: February 27, 2009
Updated: February 27, 2009
WASHINGTON — Utilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington have sent out millions of shut-off notices to customers in the past year and are turning off service more often.
Recent data provided to Maryland regulators show that Baltimore Gas and Electric issued 1.9 million shut-off notices in 2008. Washington Gas issued more than 472,000 notices and Pepco issued more than 426,000. From 2006 to 2008, shut-offs rose 23 percent and late payments went up 44 percent statewide.
In Virginia, Dominion Virginia Power shut off service to nearly 94,000 customers in 2008 — a 15 percent jump from the year before.
In D.C., data show one-quarter of Pepco customers who rely on electricity for heat were in arrears in 2008.
Regulators say tens of thousands of customers could lose service April 1, when a winter restriction on shut-offs ends.
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Reader Reactions
Sympathy? What is the reason for this article? People who don’t pay their bills get their services cut off (PERIOD) Pretend the Electric Company was a restaurant and then say over and over THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH! There are too many people out there expecting someone to donate the money for their heatint/cooking bill but get over it because YOU ARE NOW ON YOUR OWN! No jobs, no charitable deductions, and raising our taxable level makes us NON-CHARITABLE!
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