Consumer Advocates Seek Ban on Utility Disconnections Due to Heat Wave AUSTIN, TX -- Texas is experiencing a heat emergency and consumer advocates are asking the Public Utility Commission to adopt an emergency rule as it did in 1998 to suspend disconnection of electric service through September 30, 2000 to save lives and protect the public health and safety. Texas Ratepayers Organization to Save Energy (Texas ROSE) and Texas Legal Services Center formally filed a petition for emergency rulemaking yesterday with the PUC, for consideration at the Commission's August 10 meeting. The petition is supported by the Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office and AARP. A copy can be obtained by calling (512) 477-4431, ext. 114. As of July 25, a total of 32 Texans had died due to heat stroke or other heat related conditions. The current PUC rules prohibit disconnection on days when the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a heat advisory. However, the rule is inadequate during an extended heat wave, when electricity bills mount can become too high for many consumers to pay. When payments are past due the threat of disconnection looms. A short break in the triple digit heat index could trigger disconnection leaving the customer without electricity when the heat index rises again. The petition requests that before issuing a disconnection notice the electric utility must personally contact the customer and offer to establish a minimum payment schedule and a deferred payment plan. A customer would not have to pay the entire bill to avoid disconnection. The groups said no one in Texas should die for fear that running the air conditioner will mean they won't be able to afford to pay their next electric bill. Read the Petition to Adopt An Emergency Rule To Suspend Disconnection Of Electricity Because of Extreme and Persistent Heat. | 
