KITCHEN: SHARE YOUR INPUT AT HEARING ON PROPOSED PGW RATE HIKES

          PHILADELPHIA, March 20: State Sen. Shirley Kitchen invites the public to share their input at an upcoming hearing on Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) proposed rate increase.

          The public hearing, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), will take place at 1 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9 at Community College of Philadelphia’s Center for Business and Industry, conference room C2-28, 18^th and Callowhill streets.

          “This proposed PGW rate increase directly affects Philadelphia residents, so I urge consumers to come to the public hearing and share their questions and concerns,” said Kitchen. “I’m pleased that PUC and the Office of Consumer Advocate are advocating public input through this hearing.”

          If you would like to speak at the public hearing, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) offers the following tips:

• Please participate. This is your opportunity to make the PUC and the utility company aware of any concerns that you have regarding the company’s service and its request for changed rates or services.

• Come early. If possible, try to be there at least 10 to 15 minutes before the meeting starts. You will then have the opportunity to hear the introductions and the PUC administrative law judge’s instructions at the beginning of the hearing.

• Sign up if you want to testify. Witnesses are usually called to testify in the order they have signed in.

• Prepare what you want to say in advance. It is helpful to prepare your statement ahead of time. If you are nervous about speaking in public, you may want to write out your statement and then read it at the hearing.

• Be sworn in. Unless you are sworn in as a witness your testimony will not become part of the record in the case.

• Add your own experience. As a PGW customer, you have unique information. When you testify, give specific examples to support the issues you address. If other customers have already testified about the same issue, you may still mention it. It will show the issue is not affecting just one person. If there are many speakers, the judge may set a time limit for each witness.

• Speak slowly and clearly. Your testimony is important. Make sure you are understood.

• Bring copies of written statements. If you have a written statement or other papers that you want to give to the judge as evidence, please try to bring extra copies with you. One copy goes to the judge, and two to the court reporter. You should also bring copies to give to the active parties in the case.

• Be prepared for questions. Sometimes one of the parties in the case may want to ask you a question about your testimony. Listen carefully to the question and answer it the best you can. It is OK if you do not know the answer.

• Contact the OCA for assistance. If you need information about the case or about how to testify, please feel free to contact the OCA at 1-800-684-6560. An OCA attorney will be at all public input hearings when their office is part of the case. Please ask the OCA attorney any questions you may have. The OCA is there to help consumers.