(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), they approved modifications in Harrisburg yesterday to a proposed settlement with FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FirstEnergy PA). The Commission doubled financial penalties after determining that the original agreement was inadequate in light of a December of 2021 incident involving the improper termination of electric service during the PUC’s winter moratorium. The case involves the termination of electric service to a residence in Westmoreland County during a period when additional consumer protections are in place for income-eligible households. Service was shut off on December 14th, 2021. Resident Melissa Gourley died three days later in the home while the electric service remained off. The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt a motion by Chairman Steve DeFrank and Commissioner Ralph V. Yanora to modify an earlier settlement proposed between the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) and FirstEnergy PA. The Commission concluded that stronger penalties were warranted given the company’s failure to follow procedures designed to protect vulnerable customers. The action of the Commission underscores the critical importance of utility compliance with termination protections, which includes the responsibility of ensuring that customers are informed of available assistance programs and safeguards before service is shut off.