Atlantic City Electric denied claims by South Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew that they are ramping up efforts to disconnect customers before the winter cut-off.
"The company is currently making a final attempt to contact approximately 150 customers regarding possible disconnection," spokesperson Candice Womer told BreakingAC a day after Van Drew held a public hearing during which he called for a federal audit of the company.
The move comes in light of local customers saying they have seen bill increases of as much as three, four or even five times over past summers.
Van Drew alleged that the company was sending non-union workers to homes to threaten customers who previously have paid their bills on time with disconnections. He claimed they were trying to get the payments made before Nov. 15, when the Winter Termination Program kicks in.The program protects those who cannot pay their bill for various reasons from having their electricity cut off from Nov. 15 through March 15.
"Disconnections occur as a last resort after the company makes several attempts to contact the customer to provide them with notices, various bill payment options and access to bill assistance programs from state and federal government," Womer said. "We have a strong tradition of supporting our customers and the communities we serve, and we adhere to the Utility Customer Bill of Rights, which details customer notice and timing requirements for all utilities and their customers across New Jersey.
"We also have cold and warm weather procedures which prevent disconnection of service when temperatures are expected to be extremely cold or extremely warm," Womer added.
As for the public hearing, Atlantic City Electric insists the company made several attempts to have productive conversations with Van Drew with no response from his office.
"It is for this reason that we respectfully declined the congressman’s invitation to participate in his Oct. 8 public meeting," the statement provided to BreakingAC read.
"We hear our customers and are working to meet their needs and provide communication that better assists them on billing issues," it continued. "We are also committed to helping connect our customers with energy assistance programs, and recently launched a new Assistance Finder tool that makes it easier to see which programs you may qualify for. All of these resources are available in our central bill support page at atlanticcityelectric.com/BillSupport.
"Our focus right now is engaging in constructive dialogue that has our customers' best interest in mind and brings light to the energy challenges we are currently facing in New Jersey."
The company participated in a hearing with the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee last Wednesday, providing testimony it said sheds light on its efforts to support our customers.
"We are committed to working together with other utilities, elected and regulatory officials, PJM, generators, and customers, to be part of a path forward that supports the area’s growing energy needs and manages bill impacts, while continuing to reach our collective clean energy and climate goals for all New Jersey residents," the statement continued. "Our participation at the ATU committee hearing is just one of many steps we are taking to help educate the public and empower our customers.
"We appreciate any opportunity to speak directly to our customers and stakeholders when a positive outcome is the objective. We understand the impact of bill fluctuations and that’s why we continue this broader effort to lower usage and connect customers to bill assistance resources."
