Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, February 17

Rate caps have expired for electric customers across Pennsylvania.  Before caps were removed in the last few years, many homeowners and businesses were worried about huge rate increases.  For thre most part that hasn't happened, although rates have gone up.

Along with the rate cap expiration came competition -- customers could choose which energy company to purchase their power from.  However, only about 20 percent have decided to switch to another supplier.  That means the great majority stayed with their original electric company by default.

Now a new group has formed -- Energy Consumers First -- to encourage Pennsylvanians to choose a supplier that best meets their needs and saves them money.

Former Pennsylvania State Auditor General and Treasurer Barbara Hafer is the Honorary Chairwoman of Energy Consumers First.  She'll be our guest on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk.

Listen to the program:



Learn more about Energy Consumers First.

Also, Dr. Bud Weinstein, an economist and Associate Director of the Maguire Energy Institute will speak to the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg this Sunday about understanding the upheaval in the Middle East.  Dr. Weinstein joins us to make the case that abandoning oil and gas energy sources are shortsighted.

The Energy Consumers Bill of Rights:

1. RATES—The right to lower rates that reflect lower generation and distribution costs.
2. TRANSPARENCY—The right to clear, timely and independent billing, which fully explain all of the costs.
3. CHOICE—The right to be able to easily choose a power supplier from multiple choices.
4. FLEXIBILITY—The right to a variety of billing options and rate structures that reflect our individual usage patterns.
5. CONSERVATION—The right to seek and find ways to conserve and reduce energy consumption, and gain access to quality, affordable conservation services.
6. INNOVATION—The right to expect our suppliers and distribution companies to develop and offer new products and innovations that will help keep our costs down and improve the environment.
7. IMPROVEMENT—The right to expect distribution companies to invest in their infrastructures and facilities so as to improve services and reliability.
8. LEVEL PLAYING FIELD—The right to expect energy choice policies and regulations that do not favor one segment of industry over another, or one company over another.
9. CONSUMER PROTECTION—The right to expect government policies and programs that protect us from subsidizing other segments of ratepayers at our expense.
10. RELIABILITY—The right to expect government policies that encourage improved and expanded generation and distribution capacities and efficiencies.

www.energyconsumersfirst.com