National Grid told to halt 'one grand demand' Wednesday, March 19, 2008 By Jason Subik (Contact) Gazette Reporter
ALBANY — The state Public Service Commission today told National Grid to discontinue its so-called “one grand demand” policy of requiring residential customers to either pay unpaid bills in full or $1,000, whichever is less, before the utility will reconnect electrical service. “One of our most important roles is to safeguard and protect ratepayers, in particular consumers who are financially less fortunate or have fallen on hard times,” PSC Chairman Garry Brown said. “National Grid’s practice in this matter regarding residential applicants who are in default does not conform with the intent of commission regulations.” PSC spokesman James Denn said National Grid’s policy did not take into account the financial circumstances of customers who may have had legitimate hardships that prevented them from paying bills in the past but won’t prevent them from paying in the future. He said the commission’s Office of Consumer Services is now conducting discussions with National Grid to establish guidelines for the utility’s practices for handling applications of residential service for persons who previously breached an agreement. National Grid spokesman Patrick Stella would not directly comment about the PSC’s ruling.
Where did news people get that idea? National Grid lets people pay $10 a month on their "old" debt. And I won't say how I know, but many people owe at least $5,000 and NG doesn't do a darn thing to them, no shut off, nothing
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