Here’s a shocker – PPL could have been overcharging its customers recently.
Whether the Allentown utility conglomerate surged inaccurate and dishonest billing practices will be up to the scrutiny of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, who will render a decision at a later date. The bureau enforces state public utility codes and regulations.
PPL customers in our area are located in Hatfield Township, Franconia Township and Souderton Borough.
According to the Pennsylvania PUC, the comprehensive investigation was prompted after receiving numerous reports of unusually high bills received by customers served by PPL Electric Utilities. The investigation will also look into the accuracy and integrity of billing practices, per the report.
Affected PPL Electric customers are urged to call PPL with concerns about their bills and the accuracy of the bills, said the state PUC. Customers are directed to explore options with PPL for corrected bills, payment options and financial assistance options.
Consumers who do not believe PPL has resolved their issues, or believe PPL has not responded appropriately to situations, should call the bureau at 1-800-692-7380. Furthermore, the Bureau wants to hear from any consumers who are unable to reach PPL agents or do not receive a timely response from PPL.
According to the state PUC, any customer with concerns with a PUC-regulated utility must first contact the utility before filing a PUC complaint. The PUC accepts informal (residential billing issues, payment arrangements) and formal (rate protests) complaints.
Residents in Lancaster County took their issues with the higher utility billing to WGAL-8 news in December.
Lancaster resident Ed Frey told the news that his bill jumped 38% in December, or about 52 kilowatts higher than December 2021.
“I have encountered incidents of people being billed 50% above what they would have expected to be billed," Frey told WGAL.
According to WGAL, PPL’s rates only increased 18% in December, and the utility company blamed it on technology.
PPL told WGAL that technical issues marred communication with customers’ electric meters, so it estimated payments, which it is permitted to do by law, but only every second month.
"These estimates were based on actual electricity use data during the same billing period last year. We ask that customers pay the estimated bill amount, as any difference between the estimated bills and actual usage will be reconciled when the next bill is issued,” a PPL representative told WGAL.
Back in 2007, PPL’s billing practices were scrutinized by some Poconos residents, who claimed the utility company charged them for electricity when utilities were off due to severe winter storms in January and February 2005. They fought and even refused to pay the bills for more than two years.
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