By Bruce B. Brugmann
(Scroll down for information on the rally and on a consumer survey on PG&E’s late payment policy
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company really does screw residents and businesses on a systematic basis, as Guardian readers and Clean Energy Act (H) supporters know.
For example, the utility often imposes deposits for late payments on residents. For businesses, it often forces a late paying company to buy a bond. For businesses that late pay, PG&E is quick to notify Dun & Bradstreet, the business credit rating service, making it more difficult for the company to qualify for credit. To make matters worse, there is no realistic way for residents or businesses to get help or complain about PG&E’s late payment policies or any of its other abusive policies. On guard!
So it is good to see the The Utility Reform Network (TURN) call PG&E out on the late payment issue and sponsor a rally against PG&E’s late payment deposit policy at noon Thursday (ll/20/08) at the corner of Fremont and Market Sts. in San Francisco. Here is TURN’s press release on the rally and its survey on late payment deposits.
Why penalize customers who are struggling to pay their bills during an
economic crisis?
STAND UP! SPEAK OUT!
Fight for our rights to affordable utility services!
Rally for a Suspension of Late Payment Deposits!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
12:00pm
Corner of Fremont & Market St
San Francisco, Ca 94105
Directions by public transportation: MUNI Bus Lines-F, 38, 7, 14, 21, 6, 71 Metro Lines- J, K, L, N, M, T exit at Embarcadero station
For more information please contact Lotchana at 415.987.4375 or
lsourivong@turn.org
Sponsored by TURN (The Utility Reform Network)
PG&E Customer Survey: Deposits
Have you ever been asked for a deposit because you have paid your bill
late?
Yes No
Are you doing your best to make regular payments?
Yes No
Is your electric/gas service still on?
Yes No
Have you had the same residential billing address and account name for
the past year?
Yes No
Do you have a copy of your bill that shows the deposit charge? Yes No
If you answered YES to all the questions and want the deposit refunded,
please contact Lotchana at 415-987-4375 or lsourivong@turn.org.
Maybe we contact you, if we have further questions?
(Mailing address: 711 Van Ness Ave. Ste. 350, SF, CA 94102)
Name:_____________________________________
Address:___________________________________
Phone or Email:________________________________