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Let's get this party started!

2/27/2011

10 Comments

 
FirstEnergy swallowed Allegheny Energy on Friday.  I hope they drank some Pepto-Bismol as a chaser. 

So, what does this mean for the PATH project?  Dunno, but let's have a little fun speculating.  FirstEnergy's spokesperson said, "the immediate task for FirstEnergy is the transition, rather than ongoing projects such as the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline."  Right away it becomes a lower priority, while they're busy with, "...layoff of Allegheny workers.  Typically, when corporations merge, the new company tries to eliminate duplicative departments and other back office employees."  I also read something somewhere that prattled on about retention being related to job performance... Ut-oh, fellas!  So, does this mean that Karma is going to pay a little visit to some of our favorite friends in Greensburg?  If so, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of... *insert inappropriate word here*.  More importantly, does this mean we're going to get some fresh meat?  I hope so!  I do so love variety and challenge.  Our current crop is getting kind of boring, don't you think?  I hope FirstEnergy has a little more variety for us... the middle-aged, nerdy-looking, white guys have been a little thick on the ground over the past 2 1/2 years and, honestly they're all starting to sort of look alike.  Allegheny's website says the merger will provide, "...expanded opportunities for employees."  Could this include the "opportunity" to stand in the unemployment line?

The Greensburg building is going to be turned into a regional headquarters for "West Penn Power" (what's up with the shell company names, can't they help themselves?)  Maryland's regional headquarters will be in Hagerstown under the name "Potomac Edison".   I wonder if those Frederick County Chamber guys who brown-nosed so shamelessly at the merger hearing last fall are now properly chagrined?  In West Virginia, it's going to be called "Mon Power" and headquartered at the "new" transmission headquarters in Fairmont that Allegheny used as a bribe to get their TrAIL project approved in this state.  So, which state gets the PATH project group?  I guess it doesn't matter, as long as it's WV or MD so their employees can have new and expanded "opportunities" to end up with a transmission line in their own backyards.  Word:  Remember, none of the merger costs are going to be dumped on the ratepayers.  So none of those overblown "relocation" fees Allegheny is famous for will end up in the PATH project revenue requirement, right?  We'll be sure to keep you honest, just in case.

So, FirstEnergy, welcome to the party!  It's nice of you to come and lend your corporate name and reputation to the slaughter.  Allegheny Energy and AEP have already sacrificed theirs for the PATH cause.  I promise that you'll soon find yourselves going to places that you never thought possible, and the ride will be anything but boring!  What a heartwarming, little welcome you've prepared for us on your website!  I thought it a matter of proper etiquette that I respond in kind:

Who are the PATH opposition?

Your opposition is a diverse group of landowners chosen by the PATH project when they drew a line on a map, as well as other concerned citizens and electric ratepayers in 13 states and the District of Columbia.  We are dedicated to stopping PATH, exposing you for the liars you are and grassroots organizing excellence. Headquartered Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (might as well be honest, we're everywhere!) your opposition comprises the nation’s largest transmission line opposition group and is based on serving thousands of landowners and concerned ratepayers in the tri-state region and beyond. Its diverse opposition fleet features REAL grassroots opposition, bad PR for you, having your "events" turned upside down, occasional embarrassment opportunities, and the joy of being proven wrong constantly and lots of corporate bad will, and has a total generating capacity of unlimited slippery banana peels strewn in your "path".

What Does B
eing a PATH Parent Mean to FirstEnergy?
 
We’re excited about your new parenthood of this bouncing, baby transmission line project and hope you are, too. We consider it a privilege to continue to kick the PATH project in the teeth under new management, and look forward to enhancing that service as part of a larger, stronger, louder opposition.

Initially, you won’t notice many changes to your daily lambasting or in how you spy on us. You’ll still rely on the internet, the press and public meetings to provide you with our project-killing service, wreck your carefully laid plans and make fools out of your public relations contractor. However, over time we hope you will notice positive changes, including a realization that your project is never going to happen.
 
As we begin to implement efficiencies and best practices as a result of your merger, we hope you’ll see other benefits, including faster laughter and finger-pointing following major screw-ups on your part, better use of your own processes to thwart you over the long term, and more support for our mission to make sure your greedy, little project never happens.
 
We are proud to be part of your nightmares and remain committed to providing you with the high-quality service you expect and deserve. As always, please contact us if you have questions, problems or issues about your lack of traction with project approvals that you would like to discuss. We look forward to being your PATH project opposition provider for many years to come.



10 Comments
Da Hillbilly
2/27/2011 03:49:51 pm

BWHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHARHAR! more to come as time allows, right now I just fell from my chair laughing hysterically. i sure hope the folks in greensburg got them resume's together. I too am getting quite tired of that lil bunch o' scoundrels. Now, time to play in a new sand box.

Reply
12+3=16
2/27/2011 05:02:06 pm

FirstEnergy annual sales $12B
Allegheny annual revenue $3B
Combined revenue $16B
that extra $1B in sales comes from jacking up rates

Reply
bh link
2/27/2011 05:03:05 pm

Actually, the most confusing part of the shell game is the "Allegheny Power" name. It looks like they are still keeping that one. Allegheny Power doesn't mean anything. It's not the Allegheny Energy holding company. It's just a brand name that is used in place of the individual companies in WV (Mon Power), PA (West Penn) and MD/VA (Potomac Edison). The only place Allegheny Power shows up is on their Web site and our electric bills. The regulatory agencies all use the individual state names, which Allegheny Energy never used in public. It looks like FirstEnergy is just going to add another layer to this mess with a totally different name.

I noticed on the little description of FirstEnergy, they didn't mention that FirstEnergy started the 2003 international blackout because of poor management. They also didn't mention the Davis Bessie nuclear power plant which has been down for years.

Reply
Keryn
2/27/2011 05:33:12 pm

What I'd like to know is if I'm going to go back to being Potomac Edison like I was before they invented Allegheny Power, or if I now get to be Mon Power? I guess I'll just get a surprise when the bill comes. What do you suppose would happen if we all made our monthly checks out to FirstEnergy? Would they still deposit them? Maybe I can sign the checks with my own shell name.

Reply
Pam
2/27/2011 07:23:37 pm

All I know is that a co-worker lives outside of Winchester, she's under a new company name after merging with Allegheny (might be Shenandoah, Keryn can help me with this), and her electric bill has gone up drastically. And the cut off notices come much quicker then it did before when my co-worker paid her bill to Allegheny. She, like everyone else, fell on hard times and fell behind paying bills, but her new electric company was very quick to threaten to pull the plug at her house.

Reply
Keryn
2/27/2011 07:50:07 pm

That was a sale of Allegheny assets in Virginia to Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative -- instead of a merger it was a shedding of something they didn't want anymore in order to raise cash.

Has she complained to the VA-SCC? They approved that sale *rubber stamp*

Reply
Keepin it honest
2/28/2011 01:59:02 am

In the words of some wise ol' rockers, "Meet the new boss...just like the old boss". So, hello FirstEnergy, we won't get fooled again!

Reply
Mount'n Music Re-rock
3/1/2011 08:22:31 am

"St. Peter don't you call me 'cuz I can't go....I owe my soul to the company store."

Reply
kids party sydney link
6/17/2012 09:55:24 pm

Thanks for informative and helpful post; obviously in your blog everything is good. If you post informative comments on blogs there is always the chance that actual humans will click through.

Reply
Hessmeister
11/1/2012 07:24:50 am

All the best and most qualified workers are getting canned and the First Energy assholes are still there.

Reply



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    About the Author

    Keryn Newman blogs here at StopPATH WV about energy issues, transmission policy, misguided regulation, our greedy energy companies and their corporate spin.
    In 2008, AEP & Allegheny Energy's PATH joint venture used their transmission line routing etch-a-sketch to draw a 765kV line across the street from her house. Oooops! And the rest is history.

    About
    StopPATH Blog

    StopPATH Blog began as a forum for information and opinion about the PATH transmission project.  The PATH project was abandoned in 2012, however, this blog was not.

    StopPATH Blog continues to bring you energy policy news and opinion from a consumer's point of view.  If it's sometimes snarky and oftentimes irreverent, just remember that the truth isn't pretty.  People come here because they want the truth, instead of the usual dreadful lies this industry continues to tell itself.  If you keep reading, I'll keep writing.


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