In an effort to help consumers in the state of Ohio this winter, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) said it has requested that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) “reconsider” part of an order issued Oct. 16. The OCC claims that part of the order that oversees customers’ emergency reconnection of natural gas and electric service could leave some consumers out in the cold this winter. For 60 days, the order allows all natural gas and electric public utilities to take up to three days to reconnect certain customers currently without heat.

The OCC also reiterated that it remains opposed to a separate PUCO order that issued special reconnection provisions for Dominion East Ohio customers. Under that order, Dominion East Ohio customers whose income is above 200% of the federal poverty level will now have to pay $250, instead of the $175 paid by all disconnected customers in previous years (see Daily GPI, Oct. 15). The OCC believes that these changes could jeopardize the health and safety of Ohioans.

“When it’s so cold in your house that you can see your breath, you need heat and you need it right away,” said Robert S. Tongren, OCC. “Three days is too long to wait when it’s as cold in your house as it is out on the street.”

The OCC said PUCO this year has waived the same-day reconnection rule that has existed for 17 years and allowed companies to take up to three days to reconnect customers who have been without service for more than three days. The OCC maintains that the order was issued by the PUCO without any request from a utility company and without any support that the changes were necessary.

The OCC also challenges why consumers who have been without service for more than three days already are those that would be without heat even longer.

The OCC listed what will be different this year:

Despite the changes, the OCC said the following will stay the same:

The OCC said it has requested that PUCO consider its application quickly and order the utilities to reconnect those customers who pay the appropriate fee within 24 hours.

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