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FirstEnergy Customer Education Community Meetings Across West Virginia This Week

10/12/2013

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The Coalition for Reliable Power, the Jefferson County NAACP and The Mountain Institute are partnering to host three educational meetings for Potomac Edison and Mon Power customers across the state this week.

The meetings are a prelude to the WV Public Service Commission public comment hearings on meter reading and billing practices of the FirstEnergy affiliate companies scheduled for October 23-25.

The educational meetings are designed to:

1.    Bring you up to speed on the PSC's General Investigation.

2.    Inform you about the structure, process and participation at the public hearings.

3.    Explain a typical FirstEnergy electric bill and how you can become a proactive customer to protect yourself from future billing problems.  Bring a copy of your most recent bill so you can participate in our group exercise to find out how to calculate exactly how much you should owe, and what to do when your bill isn't accurate.

4.    Provide an opportunity to ask questions and share your concerns with others who may be experiencing the same issues.

Listen in on Monday morning, October 14, at 9:45 a.m. when the Coalition's Keryn Newman will be discussing the upcoming meetings on WRNR Talk Radio.

And be sure to attend the meeting closest to you!

Charles Town, WV
October 16, 6:30 p.m., Fishermen Hall, Corner of South West and Academy streets 

Morgantown, WV
October 16, 6:00 p.m., Morgantown Public Library, 373 Spruce Street

Arnoldsburg, WV
October 17, 7:00 p.m., Arnoldsburg Community Building, Arnoldsburg

See you then!
0 Comments

A FirstEnergy Lullaby

10/9/2013

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“We’re still just reviewing (the order),” MonPower spokesman Todd Meyers said. “Our legal department has been spending all night and even today as we speak looking at it.”
Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep crooked lawyer
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be stressed
Lullaby and good night, Tony the Trickster's delight
May devils haunt your dreams, and disturb you with their screams
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake up depressed
Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep greedy shyster....

Your work here is done.

0 Comments

WV PSC's PYMWYMI Harrison Transfer Conditions

10/8/2013

1 Comment

 
FirstEnergy has been preternaturally verklempt about its "victory" in the Harrison Power Station transfer case at the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

Reporters have been hard pressed to get much more than the usual "we are reviewing the decision and will respond appropriately" line.  However, congratulations are due to the rather clueless reporters at WDTV, who inspired Toad to say something different, but equally clueless.
"Once we review this agreement will are hoping that it will lead to a decrease in rates for customers right off the bat with a reduction of about a $1.50 to the average residential customer." said Todd Meyers, First Energy Spokesman.
Right, Toad, but that "decrease" is only a temporary result of taking the entire credit for the sale of Pleasants in the first year.  Once that $25M credit has been used to reduce rates, it's gone for good, and so is the rate "decrease." 

So, what is FirstEnergy so afraid of in the PSC's favorable Order?  The PSC has allowed the sale and twisted itself in legal knots to do it.  What's not to like?

It's the "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" conditions the PSC added to the transaction.  FirstEnergy's evil henchmen and their bean counting lap dogs are busy running the numbers and scheming up ways to manipulate the conditions so that they don't end up losing any money in the deal.

FirstEnergy told the PSC that the transaction would not damage the credit or financial position of Mon Power & Potomac Edison.  FirstEnergy also told the PSC that recovery of the acquisition adjustment ($589M of funny money added to the value of Harrison at the Allegheny Energy/FirstEnergy merger) was proper under FERC regulations.  They promised the PSC that Harrison would be able to sell excess generation not needed by Mon Power & Potomac Edison at a hefty profit, which would flow back to benefit the West Virginia ratepayers.

The PSC wants FirstEnergy to "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is," therefore, the PSC added the following conditions to its approval of the transaction:
1. First Energy and Mon Power must agree through written verified statements filed in the record in this case within ten days of the date of this Order that they understand and agree that if First Energy does not make additional equity investment in Mon Power to cover the decline in equity caused by the write-off of the $332 million (pre-tax) Acquisition Adjustment, Mon Power must agree not to pay, and First Energy must agree that it will not receive, any dividends from Mon Power until the equity to total capital ratio of Mon Power returns to forty-five percent.

FirstEnergy is going to have to cover that $332M write-off with an equity contribution to Mon Power, or else they're going to have to forgo any dividends from the company until the write-off amount is restored to Mon Power's capital ratio.  Obviously, the PSC didn't agree with FirstEnergy's contention that the transaction wouldn't damage Mon Power's credit ratings.  Poor ratings costs ratepayers money through increased credit costs.  The PSC wants FirstEnergy to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.  Ut-oh!  How is FirstEnergy going to agree to this now, then plan to violate it later?  What creative bookkeeping or legal nonsense are they going to commit?
2.    First Energy, AE Supply, Mon Power and Potomac Edison must agree through written verified statements filed in the record in this case within ten days of the date of this Order that they understand and agree to allow the initial $257 million Acquisition Adjustment to be subject to adjustment through a refund from First Energy or AE Supply if the FERC determines that purchase price paid by Mon Power exceeds the fair market valuation of Harrison. If the FERC makes such a determination, the portion of the $257 million Acquisition Adjustment that exceeds fair market value will be returned to Mon Power by either First Energy or AE Supply, and the refund will be credited to the Acquisition Adjustment account.
I find this one most puzzling.  Is FERC going to come motoring into West Virginia just to evaluate the purchase price?  Is there a pending FERC case that's not mentioned in the Order?  Is there a case that needs to be filed?  By whom?  FERC does not allow the recovery of acquisition adjustments.  But, of course, that's not what the condition says.  But, obviously, the PSC was not satisfied with FirstEnergy's insistence that recovery of acquisition adjustments is allowed by FERC as part of purchase price, so the PSC wants FirstEnergy to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
3.  First Energy, Mon Power and Potomac Edison must agree through verified written statements filed in the record in this case within ten days of the date of this Order that they understand and agree that the return on, and return of, the $257 million Acquisition Adjustment will be allowed in base rates only to the extent that fifty percent of the net margins from off-system transactions from the additional Harrison capacity acquired by Mon Power will support that return. The full return requirement will be allowed each year subject to prospective adjustment based on a review of the achieved net margins from off-system sales in relation to the amount of return requirement built into the initial surcharge, and thereafter base rates. During the initial Surcharge true-up period, and thereafter when the return component on the Acquisition Adjustment is built into base rates, we will consider fifty percent of net margins on off-system sales attributable to the additional Harrison capacity as available for return on, and of, the remaining balance of the $257 million Acquisition Adjustment authorized in this case. This will not affect the ENEC calculations. If the monthly accumulation of return requirements previously built into the initial surcharge and thereafter base rates of MPPE between base rate cases exceed the allowable amount based on the achieved net margins on off-system sales, a prospective adjustment credit will be embedded in prospective base rates, If the monthly accumulation of return requirements previously built into the initial surcharge or base rate of MP/PE between base rate cases is less than the allowable amount based on the achieved net margins of off-system sales, no prospective adjustment will be made to base rates. Each base rate case will reset the balance of the net return components to allowable amount on the achieved net margins of off-system sales to zero.
This one looks really confusing, but it's not.  FirstEnergy is only allowed to recover the remaining $257M acquisition adjustment, along with interest on same, if the amount recovered is no greater than 50% of the profit margin from Harrison power sales to other utilities during the same period of time.  This means that FirstEnergy must "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" and make the sale of Harrison's excess generation as profitable as possible.  This is going to be a real problem for FirstEnergy.  After all, PJM's energy market prices are depressed... that's why FirstEnergy wanted to "sell" Harrison into West Virginia's regulated system in the first place!  The evil empire is undoubtedly sitting around the poker table, wreathed in a cloud of cigar smoke, devising new and different ways to manipulate PJM's markets.

In addition, the PSC has taken exception to FirstEnergy's proposed Revised Affiliate Agreements. 
The Commission will not authorize Mon Power and Potomac Edison to enter into the Revised Agreement at this time because of concerns regarding certain aspects of the Revised Agreement, including (i) operation of public utility generation and market-regulated plants of First Energy by FE GenCo, (ii) separation of responsibilities for economic dispatch, market offers, and planned outages between utility regulated plants with captive customers and market-regulated plants, (iii) whether provision of generation services by FE GenCo will be provided at cost or at higher market-based price if that exceeds the FE GenCo costs of operating the Mon Power generation plants, and (iv) liabilities that FE GenCo may have if there are claims or damages related to the Mon Power plants resulting from operating decisions made by FE GenCo,
The agreements allow FirstEnergy's unregulated generation affiliate to "manage" Harrison.  In this way, FirstEnergy can continue to stick it to the union workers who keep the plant running, and there's not a thing the PSC can do because it does not regulate FE GenCo.  The PSC also has corporate separation concerns about FirstEnergy manipulating energy markets.  Welcome to the club, fellas! (not that we actually expect you two to DO anything about it if that occurs)  The PSC has ordered a separate proceeding to deal with these agreements.  In the meantime, Harrison will continue to operate under existing agreements.
So, now you know why Toad is huddled under his desk, sucking his thumb, and waiting to be reprogrammed.

Be careful of the lies you spin, FirstEnergy, you might just have to live with them.
1 Comment

WV PSC Approves Harrison Settlement

10/7/2013

0 Comments

 
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Unconfirmed Albert and Still Expired McKinney have bailed out Ohio-based FirstEnergy at YOUR expense.
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Citizens' Groups Host Potomac Edison Customer Meeting Oct. 16

10/2/2013

3 Comments

 
LET’S GIVE THE PSC AN EARFUL ON ELECTRIC BILLS in Advance of PSC “Public Comment” on Meter-reading, Billing Practices!

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has announced “public comment” hearings will be held in Shepherdstown Oct. 23-24 and in Fairmont Oct. 24-25, to give citizens a chance to speak about problems they have been having with their electric bills.

We are asking ratepayers to turn out in force to hold Potomac Edison and Mon Power accountable for their failure to read meters every other month – as required by the PSC – and the resulting problems ratepayers have had with bills.

But first we are asking citizens to attend our meeting, to hear the problems that the PSC has turned up in its general investigation of FirstEnergy (the owner of the two utilities), the explanations and excuses being offered by the company, and how ratepayers can use their own bills to identify problems.

Two meetings, you say? Why is that necessary?

Because the PSC has decided that before it listens to any citizens about their problems, the citizens first have to wait through an hour-long presentation by the utilities. We want ratepayers to have the knowledge to decide for themselves if the presentation provides answers – or excuses.

Our training meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6) at Fisherman’s Hall in Charles Town. We will explain what the investigation has uncovered so far, go over a sample electric bill and show how you can spot the problems you have experienced, and invite meeting participants to identify any new problems that have come up. For instance, there have been reports that Potomac Edison has been contacting some long-time customers and requiring a security deposit, even when the customers have been prompt in their payments.  Or perhaps you're still having problems with too many estimated bills?  Maybe you're one of the customers whose current bills are being over-estimated based on prior year incorrect data?

We will give ratepayers information they can use to prepare to speak at the PSC hearing.

Where:     Fisherman’s Hall
                Corner of S. West and Academy streets
                Charles Town, WV

When:       6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16th (doors open                 at 6 p.m.)

Sponsors:  Jefferson County NAACP
                The Coalition for Reliable Power

Please bring your most recent electric bill for use in our electric bill interpretation group exercise.

See you then!

Download a meeting flier to share or post

3 Comments

FirstEnergy Loses $230M in Court

10/2/2013

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Y'all want to know what I think about the PJM - MD PSC thing?  Yeah, I know, but first we're going to take a little side trip into another, less publicized, decision handed down yesterday.  Why?  Schadenfreude.  And it makes me laugh!

This turned up on a news feed. 
FirstEnergy Corp. was handed a loss in federal court on Monday after a judge agreed to dismiss a complaint alleging that a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission decision preventing the company from charging customers for $230 million worth of electricity lost during transmission ran afoul of federal law.

U.S. District Court Judge James Gardner dismissed the complaint — which challenged a 2010 PUC decision that found that so-called line losses were properly characterized as a cost of power generation that could not be recouped through additional transmission...

Want to read the rest?  Get a subscription.

Or I'll summarize for you, because I used FirstEnergy's legal whining in this case in my FERC complaint last year.  FirstEnergy lost in that instance too.

The Pennsylvania PUC denied recovery of electricity loss charges they categorized as generation charges.  FirstEnergy insisted they were transmission line loss charges under FERC's jurisdiction, and therefore the PA PUC was forbidden to do anything other than pass them through to customers unscathed because the PUC does not have jurisdiction over transmission charges.

Meanwhile, FirstEnergy was using its other puppet hand to tell FERC that transmission charges of its PATH subsidiary were state jurisdictional and that challengers had no standing to pursue them under FERC's jurisdiction.

So, FirstEnergy lost their argument at FERC.  And then they lost their argument at the PA PUC.  Looks like FirstEnergy is wrong about everything.  Maybe they can take it out of Tony's paycheck... for the next 10 years.

Ha hahahahahahahahahaaaaa!
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Koolaid & Quaaludes - WV PSC Schedules Mass Public Consumption of FirstEnergy Billing Bungle Propaganda

9/30/2013

6 Comments

 
The anticipated WV PSC Order scheduling public comment hearings on the Potomac Edison/Mon Power Billing Bungle case was issued today.  Mark your calendars as follows:
October 23, 2013 - 5:30 p.m.
Location:  Shepherd University, Frank Ctr., Shepherdstown, WV
October 24, 2013 - 9:30 a.m.
Location:  Shepherd University, Frank Ctr., Shepherdstown, WV

October 24, 2013 - 5:30 p.m.
Location:  West Chester Village, Stafford Room, Fairmont, WV
October 25, 2013 - 9:30 a.m.
Location:  West Chester Village, Stafford Room, Fairmont, WV

But... despite being promoted as public comment hearings, the PSC has ordered FirstEnergy to pump you full of koolaid and quaaludes before allowing you to speak:
...the Commission directs FirstEnergy to provide a representative that will make a presentation at each hearing, lasting approximately one hour. The presentation should, at a minimum, discuss (i) the circumstances that gave rise to the current customer meter reading and billing problems, (ii) how the merger and severe storms in 2012 affected customer meter reading and billing, (iii) changes implemented to improve customer meter reading and billing, (iv) planned changes to improve customer meter reading and billing and (v) services available to customers continuing to experience meter reading and billing problems.

FirstEnergy should arrange for its representative(s) to have access to customer records at each hearing to the extent possible and be available to speak with customers individually after the completion of public comment.
So, you must first drink the koolaid (listen to a FirstEnergy public relations spokesflack make excuses and tell you that you don't have a valid complaint for at least one hour), and then swallow the quaaludes (talk one-on-one with a FirstEnergy representative to remove any lingering doubts about how you deserved to be treated like that).  If you still have something to complain about after your dose of FirstEnergy "happy," then you can make a public comment (but the PSC and FirstEnergy bet that you won't!).

Fortunately, several citizen/consumer organizations will be distributing special enrapturement resistance tools called "education" and "citizen action" at a community meeting BEFORE the PSC and FirstEnergy's magical mesmerizing road show.

Mark your calendars to attend a Jefferson County community meeting on the evening of Wednesday, October 16.  More information will be coming before the end of the week, so check back here soon!
6 Comments

PJM Examines its Blackout-Causing Planning Failure

9/25/2013

9 Comments

 
Remember PJM's little boo-boo earlier this month that resulted in controlled little mini-blackouts of up to 8 hours for certain electric consumers in three states?

PJM still refuses to call it what it was... a failure of their planning process.  But, never fear, PJM and its "stakeholders" (not to include any people who were actually affected) intend to examine it ad nauseam and recommend changes.

Here's PJM's official sequence of events and excuse for its own failure.  PJM "sincerely regrets" their flub.

See another, better written and more understandable, unbiased version of events at RTO Insider here.

So, what caused this?
  1. Too much generation and equipment offline for routine maintenance.  PJM pretends to be surprised that the weather was really hot during the first part of September.  I wasn't.  September can produce some really hot days -- do these guy live on the same planet as the rest of us?  Maybe PJM's historical data didn't warn them that this could happen, but have they noticed that climate change has produced some really "unusual" weather over the past few years?  Also, we could ponder what effect an odd really hot day would have on a system that keeps getting bigger and more interconnected while generators get bigger and farther away from load. 
  2. Equipment failures.  Transformers and transmission lines in AEP & FirstEnergy's service territory failed, causing operators to have to shift loads, which caused overloads elsewhere.  Maybe if PJM didn't promote the building of new transmission to the detriment of maintenance and upgrading of existing transmission lines, equipment wouldn't be so vulnerable to failure at the first sign of stress. As well, both companies involved routinely brag to investors about cutting their maintenance costs in order to toss a few more cents into quarterly dividends.  When is PJM going to enforce proactive maintenance over shareholder dividends?  And, again, what if the PJM region wasn't increasingly dependent on long distance transmission to deliver electricity from greater and greater distances?  "Economies of scale" mean nothing when they cause expensive "load shedding" (aka BLACKOUTS).
  3. Reserve generation didn't come online when called.  We pay these clowns to be ready to provide extra generation when PJM says it's needed.  But they just couldn't get it together -- because they weren't ready.
And speaking of clowns, let me introduce you to my "friend" Raymond from International Transmission Company (ITC) who opines:
Why would you say we need less transmission if a transmission failure triggered a brownout or blackout. I work for a transmission company and we have been prevented from building transmission between regions designed solely to prevent situations like happened. Also, what you don't know much about is that whereever there is a lack of transmission, power plants must be run out of economic order to relieve the line congestion. This causes electric customers (everybody) to pay more. Not only are lines needed for reliability (keep the lights on) but also for economics. Economic studies determine if it's cheaper to add new lines/equipment or just redispatch generation occasionally. If done properly based on well thought out criteria, tranmission is only added when needed and is economic.
Ray needs to ponder number 1 and 2 above.  This "event" can probably be blamed on increased transmission, which wasn't really "economic" at all when the lights went out in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Bigger, inter-regional transmission lines aren't the answer. 

Ray also needs to ponder the wonders of distributed generation microgrids, but that's not what ITC pays him to do.

Who wants to guess how much time and money PJM spends "investigating" itself... and will the lights stay on while they dither over avoiding the obvious?
9 Comments

FirstEnergy and the WV PSC Spin a Web of Lies for Legislature

9/25/2013

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It appears that FirstEnergy and its apologists at the WV PSC believe that our legislators are dumb and forgetful.
That's the only explanation I can come up with for that regurgitated pack of lies legislators were fed during the Gov. Org. discussion of the study regarding electric utilities' billing practices on Monday afternoon.  I do realize that it was late in the day and our legislators wanted to go home, instead of grilling the company and its regulators.  However, only a few legislators managed to ask questions, and they could have done a better job with more information.  Nobody expects legislators to have read all the documents in the case, but a little preparation would have been nice.  It's up to each one of you to get your legislators up to speed here so that they can do a better job following up on your concerns next time.

Next time?  Although Chairman Snyder made noises that  the committee "may not pick it up again," let's not kid ourselves.  The people haven't lost interest and, in fact, a whole new wave of billing problems is beginning to form.  Ut-oh!

Karen Short, PSC attorney, began the festivities by apologizing and making excuses for FirstEnergy again.  Her litany of excuses was almost verbatim to those offered by by PSC Communications Director Susan Small back in May.  When Small's list of excuses for the company was read aloud at the Citizens' Public Hearing, Senator Snyder went ballistic, shaking his fist and proclaiming that making excuses for FirstEnergy "wasn't their [the PSC's] job!"   It must have been the delivery, because I didn't hear Senator Snyder object to:

1.    FE had billing problems related to its merger.
2.    FE made bad decisions about these changes.
3.    Storms!  Storms!  Storms!
4.    Renumbering.
5.    Last winter was 30% colder than the one before.

Here's what Short told legislators the PSC was doing or had done to remedy the problems:

1.    Ordered FE to make monthly data filings.
2.    The General Investigation will evaluate the systemic problems.
3.    FE has changed its collection policy to be more customer-friendly.
4.    The Commission will render an Order setting public comment hearings.
5.    The Commission can order the company to meet specific metrics.

She also asserted that the Commission is concerned about new estimates perpetuating last year's errors.  Great... but is she going to read my meter every month now to correct this problem?  No.  Your "concern" is greatly appreciated, Ms. Short, but why not make the company correct its previous errors and estimation routine to keep it from perpetuating this winter.  It's already begun, and we're hardly into the heating season.

Short says FirstEnergy has been "responsive."  Maybe that's what it looks like from a seat on the Commission's bench, but the view is so much different from my house.

Byron Harris, Consumer Advocate, stopped by on his last day of work to be congratulated and thanked by the legislators.  Even with all that going on, Byron was the only presenter who tried to stick up for you, however, he admitted that he has no data on your complaints because that is handled by PSC staff, and not the Consumer Advocate.  The Consumer Advocate has asked for public comment hearings in Charles Town, Martinsburg and Morgantown.  If you want one in your town, you need to call the new Consumer Advocate, Jackie Roberts, at 304-558-0526 and let her know. 

Byron touched on topics such as pay for performance, making the problems an issue in a future rate case; that the company should have internal controls to flag an account with too many estimates; that he would have to go to hearing to get any remedies the Consumer Advocate might suggest, or FirstEnergy could fight improvement and take the case to hearing.  He mentioned that the company has hired a consultant to analyze their billing program, and Byron hopes it will be an independent and honest process.  He was asked what the customer remedy would be for the company's  failure to follow the tariff and responded that the customer could file a complaint with the PSC.

Byron said the public hearings will be very important.  The PSC and the Consumer Advocate needs to hear from you!

Excuses made for FirstEnergy:

1.    The company spends $6M/year on meter reading.  Having good service will cost too much.
2.    Customers can read their own meters.
3.    FE "works with customers" and is responsive.
4.    There has been some improvement, but there is a long way to go.

In response to Senator Snyder's questioning about an effective legislative remedy, Byron wasn't very helpful, except to shoot down Herb's suggestion to add the meter reading frequency to statute (and perhaps with good reason).  If Herb wants some real suggestions, he knows who to ask... or maybe he'll just get told ;-)

FirstEnergy trotted out WV "Director of Operations" Holly Kauffman.  Where has this woman been?  Nobody has seen or heard from her since this debacle began.  Maybe she's just a do-nothing figurehead whose job is to run boring power point presentations and use up valuable discussion time?

Anyhow, Holly said she takes pride in how FirstEnergy supports "our customers."  Well, I guess that explains it then.  Holly went on to say that FirstEnergy will fix their problems "as a company."  Then she made all the same old, tired excuses as Karen Short.  Do you think they rehearsed this together while exchanging recipes and doing each other's nails?

Holly wants us to believe that FirstEnergy launched its own "internal investigation."  Was that before or after they blew off the Citizens' Public Hearing in Charles Town?  Let's save Holly some embarrassment and admit that we sent her a personal invitation.  She never responded.  Instead, lobbyist Sammy Gray merely "respectfully declined" the invitation for a second time.  I guess Holly just does what Sammy tells her to do.

Holly says FirstEnergy's estimation process is fixed!  You believe her, don't you?  No?  Okay then, she also admitted that the EPRI analysis of FE's billing system has not yet been completed... but why should they bother, when it's already fixed?  And, one more point to ponder -- who is paying for this study?  Surely not the ratepayers, since the problem was caused by the FirstEnergy merger.... and no merger costs are billable to customers.  Well, at least that's what the merger stipulation says, but it also says that FirstEnergy's merger would be a huge benefit to electric consumers in West Virginia.  We're still waiting, FirstEnergy.  Your merger has been nothing but misery and agony for your captive customers.

FirstEnergy did one good thing!  I know... shocking, isn't it?  Supposedly they have hired 7 roving meter readers to fill in during absences and help the meter readers catch up on those impossibly heavy meter reading schedules.  Wow!  Did they call in Sherlock Holmes to figure out that they need some sort of back-up system because life happens?  They have also supposedly begun calling customers to alert them in advance of a renumbering double billing event about to happen.  Is that because that tiny line of text on the bill just wasn't effective?  Right.

But then she got carried away and insisted that FirstEnergy is responsive to customers and that no customers had their power disconnected due to the billing fiasco.  This is just plain NOT TRUE!

A few legislators asked questions, but Holly batted them all away as insignificant or unworkable.  A very unintelligent discussion of smart meters ensued, but Holly's bottom line was that we could either have cheap electricity or good service, but not both.

And make note of this... in the event that you overpay the company due to an over estimated bill, you can call and request that they send you a check instead of being stuck with a huge credit.

To sum it up, FirstEnergy is a company that "continues to improve" and "continues public outreach."  After all, when you've hit rock bottom with customer service, the only direction to go is up.

Please write to your legislator and let him/her know that you are not satisfied with Monday's performance.

0 Comments

PJM Says FirstEnergy Can Close Pennsylvania Plants

9/24/2013

0 Comments

 
After issuing a preliminary opinion that FirstEnergy's  Hatfield's Ferry and Mitchell power stations were necessary for grid reliability, PJM ultimately changed its mind last week and approved closure of the plants on October 9.

FirstEnergy, PJM and state officials have been playing a confusing game of life or death with these plants for months now.

Pennsylvania legislators and regulators have been raising a ruckus, giving plant employees false hope that they could find a way to keep the plants open.  Ultimately, all this posturing was only harmful to the actual working men and women at the plants, who have been buoyed along on false hopes, and may have squandered valuable time in securing alternative employment or training for other jobs.  Very sad.

At least nobody is playing FirstEnergy's plant closure game this time though.  Last time, FirstEnergy scored some very valuable reliability must run contracts to keep plants slated for closure open until new transmission could be built.  However, in the end, those plants will close too, and when they do FirstEnergy has nothing to offer to loyal employees.  The company simply doesn't care.

Of course we shouldn't be surprised.  PJM is a transmission operating and building cartel.  Its annual planning is based on a Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP).  Transmission is all PJM does, therefore when the only tool PJM has is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.  While many uninformed people will blame some imaginary "war on coal," they'd be more effective pointing the finger at the pro-transmission lobby that is PJM.  Pay attention to PJM's new transmission project proposal window to find out why FirstEnergy decided to close these plants and replace them with transmission from other generators.  As PJM continues to expand, generation is increasingly centralized at generators located farther and farther  from load.  This isn't economic or reliable, but it puts money in the pockets of transmission owners, developers and suppliers.  This is the REAL enemy that closed Mitchell and Hatfield's Ferry.

So, FirstEnergy employees being kicked to the curb can develop new careers in transmission far from home, or they can invest in new opportunities in distributed generation in their own communities and join with the consumers opposing unnecessary transmission.  Whatever they choose, we wish them well.
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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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