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Court to take up CUC disconnection
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Posted on Dec 06 2006
Several other customers whose power service has been disconnected are expecting relief from the federal court today.
The U.S. District Court will hear this afternoon a reopened class lawsuit against the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. over allegedly illegal disconnections.
Earlier, the federal court ordered CUC to reconnect power to customers who have contested their billings.
But more customers, mostly low income or elderly, have since come to the office of Rep. Stanley T. Torres complaining about CUC’s disconnection of their power service.
Jack Angello, legislative assistant to Torres, said that the lawmaker’s office took the names of customers alleging that CUC improperly cut off their electric service or that CUC customer service representatives refused to assist them. The rest of the complainants were urged to go directly to CUC.
The court is also expected to clarify CUC’s disconnection policy.
In a May 5, 2006 directive, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial issued Executive Order 2006-4 stating that, “Consumer accounts receivable for the utility service shall not be more than 90 days past due, unless the consumer is contesting the billing. The corporation shall cut off utility services to customers who are not actively contesting their billing and who have accounts more than 90 days past due.”
However, CUC continues with its practice to disconnect customers 45 days after billing date. According to CUC policy, a customer is given 15 days after billing date to pay his or her obligation. If payment is not made by due date, the customer gets another 14-day grace period. Disconnection occurs beginning on the 15th day that an account is outstanding.
