Consumer advocate to speak on electric issues at Free Library
Sonny Popowsky, Pennsylvania's consumer advocate for utility issues, will be at the Free Library Wednesday night to discuss electricity deregulation.
Consumer advocate to speak on electric issues at Free Library
Jeff Gelles, Inquirer Business Columnist
Still puzzled by electricity deregulation? As my colleague Andy Maykuth reported Sunday, you're hardly alone. Nearly 40 competitive suppliers are now vying for your power dollars, and those who have switched in the last year have been able to save 10 to 20 percent off Peco Energy's default-service prices. But according to a recent survey, only 45 percent of Pennsylvanians say they've shopped for power. Now residential-heating (RH) customers and those with special off-peak meters are facing the phasing out of longstanding discounts, another complication.
If you want to learn more, there's no one more knowledgeable than Irwin A. "Sonny" Popowsky, the state's official consumer advocate, whose office represents ratepayers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
Popowsky will speak at Philadelphia's Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The topic is "Save Money, Live Better: Be an Informed Consumer," and Popowsky also deals with issues involving landline phone companies and water and sewer regulation. But power shopping is the topic of the moment, and Popowsky says that will be his primary focus.
If you've got questions now, you can visit the Office of Consumer Advocate's website, or email or call the OCA (800-684-6560).
Or you can just show up at the Free Library Wednesday evening at 7 for Popowsky's free talk. If you're confused, you'll be glad you did.
Reach Jeff at jgelles@phillynews.com.
