WV-PSC CONTINUES INVESTIGATION OF FIRST ENERGY METER-READING PROBLEMS

(07/22/2013)
The West Virginia Public Service Commission has rejected FirstEnergy's request to drop an investigation into its meter reading and billing practices.

The PSC launched launched an investigation in June, after getting a large numbers of complaints from customers who got unexpectedly high electric bills and meter readings.

The PSC feels the utility's practices aren't satisfactory.

The PSC wants from FirstEnergy "the number and the percentage of customers who have received two or more consecutive estimated bills; current employment levels of meter readers; the number and types of complaints received by FirstEnergy; the number and percentage of customer complaints resolved on the first call to FirstEnergy and the number of customers placed on deferred payment plans."

FirstEnergy told state media a series of unexpected circumstances caused a number of customers to go without actual meter readings for several months.

The PSC's Consumer Affair Division can be reached at 1-800-642-8544.