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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Neal P. Goodman
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Goodman, Northeast Democratic Delegation ask PPL to reconsider rate increase request
HARRISBURG, March 16 -- State Rep. Neal P. Goodman and members of the Northeast Democratic Delegation are asking PPL Electric Utilities President David DeCampli to reconsider the company's request for an increase in its distribution rate for 2011.
PPL residential customers could pay $7.50 more a month in the distribution portion of their electric bill. The increase would affect all PPL customers, even if they had switched to another supplier for electric generation.
"Customers are still reeling from generation increases from the expiration of rate caps," the delegation wrote in a March 10 letter. "Even customers of alternative suppliers have experienced substantial increases in their electric bills. Families, who were already grappling with the worst recession in decades, are truly struggling with the financial hardship the generation increases have caused."
Goodman, D-Schuylkill, is chairman of the delegation.
The delegation noted that the current distribution charge raises $700 million a year to maintain and replace poles, wires and other components.
"Our question is why the company would file a request that would raise another $115 million a year," Goodman said. "With the economy still weak and unemployment high, this is the worst possible time to ask families to dig deeper into their pockets."
Other representatives signing the letter include: Robert Belfanti, Columbia/ Montour/Northumberland; Joseph Brennan, Lehigh/Northampton; Thomas R. Caltagirone, Berks; Todd A. Eachus, Luzerne; Robert Freeman, Northampton; Richard T. Grucela, Northampton; Jennifer L. Mann, Lehigh; Phyllis Mundy, Luzerne; Kevin Murphy, Lackawanna; Eddie Day Pashinski, Luzerne; John Siptroth, Monroe/Pike; Kenneth J. Smith, Lackawanna; Edward G. Staback, Lackawanna/Wayne; James Wansacz, Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wayne; John T. Yudichak, Luzerne; Tim Seip, Schuylkill/Berks; Richard Mirabito, Lycoming; and Michael K. Hanna Sr., Clinton/Centre.
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