Pennsylvania Gas & Electric

Review: I have filed a formal complaint with the PUC. Also, I will be writing the Attorney General. I have also contacted a lawyer. In January,2013, I was approached by PAG&E for a variable rate package with the explanation the variable rate was to my benefit. Every month they would check rates and if someone was lower I would get that rate. I believed I had been getting the lower rate, even though my rate was raising, because of my conversation with the su[redacted]ier. In January,2014, I opened a $1500+ bill, more than half my income for the month. Needless to say, I immediately called [redacted], my service company, and was advised that I only got a low rate the first two months after I switched, then it continued to rise above other companies. I was extremely upset and tried to call PAG&E. I kept getting a busy signal or an answering machine. I left a message to call me back about the rate increase but they have never responded. I then filed an informal complaint to get some answers from the PUC. I was told they had indeed filed for the exhorbatant rate of .2971kWh and it was approved. I understand I am not the only one, of course, but appreciate your assistance in this endeavor to decrease my bill to a reasonable rate serviced by other carriers, the highest being .08754 that I've found.Desired Settlement: Please work with the PUC and Attorney General to resolve this issue for myself and anyone else who was blindsided by this company. I understand there were a few other companies who were approved for this high rate butI don't know who they are. I thought there were roadblocks in place to prevent price gouging.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) attempted to contact **. [redacted] on March 5 and 6, 2014, concerning the rates associated with **. [redacted]’s electric account. PAG&E attempted to resolve the issues outlined in **. [redacted]’s complaint; however, we were unsuccessful in doing so, as to date, we have not received a return call from **. [redacted].

Review: You have done illegal business practice in that you have charged me more for electric supplier services than what you were approved by the PUC to charge. Your persistant phone calls and smooth talking pitches to switch to your company as an elective electric supplier. Even though a call to your business on first try did follow through with cutting my service with your company, however there is no way to avoid having to use you for another month as it had to be cancelled through a billing cycle. You have caused a hardship on your customers in that they have to pay the bill at its outrageous rates until the rate is disputed. I have called twice and left my number in which I was to have a return call in the order in which it was received. The first one was made over 2 weeks ago.Desired Settlement: I would like my January bill from you to be adjusted to the .07 rate from December and also the February bill that I'll soon be receiving. I also hope that whomever from your company authorized these charges be fired and a public apology made. The poor people that work for the company and that are dealing with all your angry customers should be given the pay of the swindler.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted] on February 26, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates and alleged billing discrepancies associated with her electric account. During our conversation with **. [redacted], we discussed the below facts and findings regarding the concerns outlined in her complaint.

Review: Feel that the sales representative was telling me that nothing at all was going to change if I signed onto their choice program. She was quoting the rates, and afterwards, I realized she kept using the word variable. The billing is in my husbands name, not mine, and he does not want any changes made from out present account with [redacted].

I tried numerous times to call the company and a recording said they were "temporarily" closed

No one returned my calls.Desired Settlement: I do not want to accept their offer. I want to be the previous way my account was with [redacted]. And I want contacted to confirm this

Sales rep I spoke with was [redacted]. #[redacted]

Confirmation was [redacted]

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted [redacted]’s wife, on June 17, 2013, regarding the complaint [redacted] filed concerning the sales call she received, her inability to contact our Customer Service Department and the cancellation request of their electric account with PAG&E. During our conversation with [redacted] we confirmed that their electric account had been cancelled and will not receive service from PAG&E. [redacted] acknowledged that she understood and thanked us for our call.

Review: I signed up with them in November 2012 and was told that the rate was .07116 and was told that they will always be lower than [redacted]. When I received a bill in December and it was 370.00 I related it to cold weather, Christmas lights etc. and then yesterday I received a bill for 554.00 so started to check on it. I found out after looking back that they are been consistenly higher than [redacted] and raising the rates little bit each month and the current rate is .1408 and [redacted] rate is .08754. I called Pennsylvania Gas and Electric today and he told me it is due to cold weather and I mentioned to him that back in October the weather was not cold and it was overcharged at that time also. I put in a case for them to review and cancelled and switched back to [redacted]. He told me it would take 2-3 billing cycles to make the switch over. I told him that was not acceptable because I could owe a $1000.00 by then and could not afford that. I called [redacted] and she said as long as they do the paperwork it should switch over by end of February. There is not any other company that is charging this very high rate when I researched it last night.Desired Settlement: I would like to get a billing adjustment for the past year for the % that [redacted] would have charged

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric

(“PAG&E”) left a voice message for **. [redacted] on February 4

and 5, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates

associated with **. [redacted]’s electric account and alleged discrepancies with

her billing. PA&E attempted to resolve the issues outlined in the

below complaint, however, we were not successful in doing so, as to date, we

have not received a return call from **. [redacted].

Review: The customer service representative that called to offer us a "better" rate for our electric transmission charges told me that their rates have NEVER gone above .08 and after only two months of our rate being at .074 it jumped to .1075. The rate stayed in the .1 range slowly increasing to .13 in January and then all the way to .3135 in February. This excessive increase from our first bill in September 2013 to now in February 2014 is completely unacceptable and should be investigated for Price Gouging. I do understand I signed for a variable rate but this is extreme and without warning.Desired Settlement: A rate more competitive with the other rates listed on the [redacted]'s website [redacted]

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) is in receipt of **. [redacted]’ complaint dated February 22, 2014, regarding the rates associated with his electric account and the alleged rebate that **. [redacted] feels is owed to him.

Review: I have contacted Pennsylvania Gas & Electric Company in September 2013 to inquire about their electric utilities rate. One of their sales managers quoted a $0.0644 kwh general service rate to me. He mentioned even though it was a variable rate, I did not need to worry that the rate would go up; in fact, he said in the next few months, as the electric supply goes up, the rate will go down. He also mentioned that since the Pennsylvania Gas & Electric Company wants to keep their customers, they will never deceive their customers with a very low intro rate and jump to a much higher rate later. I took his word for it and signed up with the Pennsylvania Gas & Electric Company in October 2013. My first bill was from 10/4/13 thru 11/4/13 and I was billed $0.0644 kwh. After two months, on my December bill (from 12/4/13 thru 1/6/14), I was billed $0.1034 kwh. I called the service center and explained the situation, but I did not get anywhere with a representative named [redacted], who constantly asked me the same questions in order to understand a very simple situation.Desired Settlement: I would like to get a refund for the difference of electricity usage from $0.1034 kwh to $0.0644 kwh, from 12/4/13 thru the date I cancelled the service around 1/30/2014. I had used approximately 9168 kwh during this period.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted] on February 7, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the sales call she received, the billing associated with her electric account and alleged inability to cancel her electric account with PAG&E. During our conversation with **. [redacted], we discussed the below findings and facts regarding the concerns outlined in her complaint.

Review: They promised to save me money on my electric bill. I have been with the company for more than a year. My rates have been higher than my delivery company every month, and now this month I am paying over 4x what I would have been paying (30 cents per KWH vs 7.8 cents!!). This is a scam and I want my money back from the past months of overpaymentDesired Settlement: I want the money back from each month that I paid more than I would have paid with [redacted].

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) is in receipt of **. [redacted]’s complaint dated March 3, 2014, regarding the rates associated with his electric account and the alleged rebate that **. [redacted] feels is owed to him .

Review: Was contacted by PAG&E about their competitive electricity supply program. Company contact person stated that they were committed to helping consumers lower their energy costs and that their company was cheaper than other providers. The starting price I was quoted for November 2013 was .07899 My November bill was 624 kwh @ .0790 @ $49.29, which I paid. My December-Jan bill was 850 kwh @ .2638 @ $224.20 , I also paid this bill. I feel as a consumer this company misrepresented the services promised. My bill tripled in one month. I have called the company and left my account # and my phone number. I have not gotten any return phone calls. As a consumer I feel I have been scammed, I am sure, I am not the only person this company has made false promises to. I write this not only for myself but also for the elderly, who will reluctantly pay their bill and then turn their heat off and possibly freeze to death, because they too can not afford next months bills. I hope you will look into this matter.Desired Settlement: I feel this company should refund consumers affected the over charged amount @ considerably close to original quoted amount.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric

(“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted], on March 7, 2014, regarding the

complaint she filed concerning the rates and alleged billing discrepancies

associated with her electric account. During this call, we discussed with

**. [redacted] the below findings and facts regarding the concerns outlined in her

complaint.

Review: The initial phone call I received from this company promised the lowest rate on the market each month for electricity, this meant a variable rate. I signed up and my bill was fine until recently when my rate skyrocketed and I was presented with a bill of over $500. I contacted the company at which time they forwarded my complaint to the billing department and stated I would get a call back in 2-3 business days. After 3 days I had no received a call back. When I call the company back they advised me that because I'm on a variable rate plan that basically they can charge me whatever rate. I advised that this is not acceptable and the rate I'm being is not fair and not what I was promised. My complaint was then resubmitted to the billing department for further review. I received a call back advising that the most they could do was offer me a competitive rate on my next bill and provide a $75 refund check. I received that refund but when my next bill came, my electricity usage was lower but my bill is now $875 and not a competitive rate. This company used a deceitful phone call offering great rates to reel me in then increase the rate to an unimaginable number. This is unacceptable and needs to be stopped.Desired Settlement: I would like my current bill to be adjusted to a reasonable rate or a refund to be provided on the services for the month.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) is in receipt of **. [redacted]’s complaint dated February 14, 2014, concerning the rates associated with **. [redacted]’s electric account.

Review: I received my electric bill and the cost was doubled. Jan was $211.86, Feb was $443.05. I saw that the cost went from .1146 to .2668. I have tried to get an answer as to why and I have been told they will call me back. I called and left my phone number, I called again. and spoke to a woman that took my phone number and I have not been contacted at all. I called again and was told someone would call me back. I feel like they are avoiding the issue.Desired Settlement: I want answers.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted

[redacted]. [redacted]’s wife on February 21, 2014, regarding the complaint **.

[redacted] filed concerning the rates associated with **. [redacted]’s electric

account. During this call, we discussed

the below findings and facts regarding the concerns outlined in **. [redacted]’s

complaint.

Review: received my electric bill that was 3 times higher then normal.( ex. $325.00 and now is $826.00) I was told that the kwh I was paying was .11 and now it jumped tp .30 in one month. They are price glouging the publicDesired Settlement: use the same kwh price as the other months and I will pay the bill gladly

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania

Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted] on March 7, 2014

regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates associated

with his electric account. During this call, we discussed with **. [redacted]

the below facts and findings.

Review: I signed on with this company for a better electric rate. It was my understanding, through their ad, that I would recieve a rate of 7.76 cents a KWh for 12 months. This rate applied for two months and now I am paying 30 cents a KWH. My last electric bill was over $ 1,000. How is someone to afford this kind of bill. This is criminal and their ad was deceptive. I have tried to contact them and I am not recieving a call back. Something has to be done. I am worried how much they are going to charge next month. My family has recieved a severe financial set back.Desired Settlement: I would like this company to go back two billing periods and charge me tha average rate of 8.50 cents a KWH. I believe they need to make this situation right.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) is in receipt of **. [redacted]’s complaint dated February 18, 2014, regarding the rates associated with his electric account and the alleged rebate that **. [redacted]’s feels is owed to him.

Review: I contacted by Pennsylvania Gas and Electric and was quoted a competitive rate for kwh usage. The sales person indicated that it would be a variable rate. I specifically asked how much I could expect the rate to vary and the sales person assured me that they were very competitive and that the rates would not exceed the [redacted] rates. I agreed to the variable rate at the verbal assurance of the sales person and made it clear that my expectation would be that the variable rate would not exceed the [redacted] rate and my rate would remain competitive. My first few bills were fine, but my most recent bill was $1440. I have never had an electric bill this high and I was completely blown away. It is $1000 higher than any electric bill I'd ever received in my life. The pricing went from 8.4 cents per kwh to 27.27 cents in one month. What was especially upsetting is that I never received notification that rates were increasing. Any ethical company would notify you such a rate increase so that you could plan accordingly. I had been dealing with [redacted] for years and their rates, although variable, never fluctuated that much and when rate increases were anticipated, they would send me a notice. I didn't find out about the Pennsylvania Gas and Electric rate change until I got the bill. I called the service center and spoke to a sales agent and she told me that she could offer me 8.7 cents per khw. When I asked her why they were billing me at 27.27 per KWH she became annoyed with me and told me that that rate was only for new customers and transferred me to another line, where I was repeatedly put on hold and transferred. I call backed at least 10 times over two days. I left messages at least 5 of those times the other times I was disconnected. No one will return my call to discuss the misrepresentation of the sales personnel and the difference between the advertised rates and the actual rates customers are being billed.

Pennsylvania Gas and Electric sales practices are unethical and no one in the company will discuss they way the sales personnel misrepresents the volatility of the rates and the lack of notification when rates increase. Our business transaction was a verbal transaction and I only agreed to a variable rate, provided it would remain less than the [redacted] rate. I did not agree to a rate with any significant volatility. I made this very clear on my call. However, it appears sales person intentionally misrepresented the**elves regarding variable rate volatilty. I gave the sales person several opportunities to clarify the limits of the variability I expect that those portions of our agreement be honored . My concern is that this company's business model does not appear to be sustainable and is more a of scam than an honest business transaction.Desired Settlement: I would like them to honor their agreement regarding the limitations of the variable rate. They agreed that their variable rate would not exceed the [redacted] kwh rate. I would like them to reissue a corrected bill with a kwh no greater than the current [redacted] rate. (Estimated credit of $791.13 for 12/28/13 to 1/30/14, billed on 2/4/14) I would also like them to honor our [redacted] limit pricing agreement for variable pricing for my March bill. If they are interested in doing business in the future, then I would recommend they return my call.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric

(“PAG&E”) left voice messages for **. [redacted] on February 20 and 21,

2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the alleged:

sales call she received, rates associated with her electric account and rebate

**. [redacted] feels is owed to her. PAG&E attempted to resolve the

issues outlined **. [redacted]’s complaint; however, we were not successful in

doing so, as to date, we have not received a return call from **. [redacted].

Review: this company clai** they will save you money by cutting your electric bill. we have a business and were promised to save money on electric bill our typical bill is around $500. and this last bill we were charged almost three times the amount $1400. I think this is bad business. I also think people need to made aware of these companies. there are more than this one. and to top all this off I called to talk to someone the first time I was put on hold for over half hour. so I called a different line and transferred over three times for which every time I was transfered over I was disconected. so the last time I got very upset with them ask for a supervisor and got to talk to a human and upon that I requested them to cancel this program for my business. I really think these companies are taking advantage of people..... the best part is that I could not cancel till the end of the billing cycle so god only knows what my bill will be for the next month......helpDesired Settlement: our bill should have been around $500.. not $1400. and like I said god only knows what the bill will be next month....this company needs stopped.....

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) left voice messages for **. [redacted] on February 21 and 24, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates associated with her electric account. PAG&E attempted to attempted to resolve the issues outlined in the below complaint, however, we were not successful in doing so, as to date, we have not received a return call from **. [redacted].

Review: When I spoke with the sales person in June he had me give him the price per KWH that I was being charged by [redacted]. When I told him he stated that they could be that price and that his company could save me about $10 per month on my electric bill. All was fine until my January bill arrived and I had been charged 27.7 cents per KWH. The rate being charged by [redacted] is currently 8.18 cents per KWH. PPL is charging 8.75 cents per KWH. It is stated in my mailing that I would receive their COMPETITIVELY priced variable rate for my generation and transmission charge. How is charging more than 3 times the rate of another supplier being competitive? Had I stayed with [redacted] my bill for January would have been slightly less than $320. Instead I receive a bill for $898.79. Paying for electric should not cost more than paying for my mortgage.Desired Settlement: I would like to be given a bill which is created from the competitive rate I was promised,

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted] on February 20, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates and alleged billing discrepancies associated with his electric account. During our conversation with **. [redacted], we discussed the below facts and findings regarding the concerns outlined in his complaint.

Review: We were signed up for the variable rate plan with Pennsylvania Gas & Electric for our electric utility. They have not come to our house to read our electric meter since October. And we haven't received a bill from them since February. Apparently the rate doubled/trippled on December 28, 2013 to 15cents per kwh instead of the current rate with other electric companies, at 5.6cents. Today when we went on to our providers website to get a copy of the bill, we now owe $6000 on our electric bill. We are being charged the increased rate since the last meter reading instead of since the rate increase. I believe they are totally screwing the consumer by doubling even tripling their rates and not reading the meter on a timely basis. I will never use Pennsylvania Gas & Electric company!!!! They kept saying "we adjust the rate based on the market" how come every one elses rates are 7.5cents or less. Which market are they looking at????Desired Settlement: I believe our bill should be adjusted to the earlier rate and we should receive a refund for the months that the rate wasn't 15 cents yet since they didn't read the meter we now have to pay 15cents.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted [redacted]. [redacted], on April 10, 2014, regarding the complaint [redacted]. [redacted] filed regarding the rates associated with her electric account. During our conversation with [redacted]. [redacted], PAG&E discussed the following facts and findings.

Review: In a period of four weeks my electric rate has jumped 300% causing my bill to skyrocket from $200 a month to over $800 a month. This is absolutely unacceptable! After researching the company, Pennsylvania Gas and Electric, I've discovered that I am not the only customer to have this complaint.Desired Settlement: Account credit.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) is in receipt of a complaint filed by **. [redacted]- [redacted] concerning the rates associated with her electric account.

Review: We are upset and outraged over the extremely high spike in our electric bill. I called the company and they just kept telling me that ours was a variable rate. However, a rate that is 13 cents per KWh one month and 31 cents the next is extreme. What can justify this type of an increase other than sheer greed?!We also feel that they 'gouged' us one last time because we terminated our business with them last month, over the last bill (which had gone up considerably from the month before) . We dropped them over the outrageous rate increase and now have our electric supplied by someone else. So we feel that they 'took advantage' of that 'variable rate' and made sure that our last bill with them was a doozy.

We realized the bills were going up, so we switched our provider. so what happens?? It seems like they have punished us with an outrageous rate for dropping them. And yes, we know, theirs is a 'variable rate'. It appears they are using that in a deceptive and unethical manner. It may be 'legal' but it is WRONG, WRONG , WRONG!!! WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PEOPLE IS JUST WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!

We also feel they are preying on people by profiling--- targeting senior citizens and those they think won't contest the charges , file grievances or complain, but simply pay the outrageous bill and not cause waves because of fear of having the electric turned off or a negative impact on their credit score.

We are retired and although our income is comfortable-- as long as we are very careful and frugal-- we cannot afford these types of bills! Last month's bill of $295 bit deeply into any extra cash we had. This final month's bill of $615 is unaffordable. We simply do not have the money to pay it!!

oe last note-- ours was a month to month contract. We in no way, shape or form violated the contract. The contract also specified that there was no cancellation fee.

We also noted that-- on the PUC website of electric rates, PG&E has theirs listed as .078 cents per KWH. So why is it fair that we have to pay 31 cents???!!!Desired Settlement: We are willing to pay Pennsylvania Gas & Electric the rate of 11 cents per KWH for this last month of service-- the same rate that we were charged all of 2013-- until the greediness took over. Even though we feel this is still a steep rate. We just want to be done with this greedy, unethical company once and for all.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”)

contacted [redacted]. [redacted] on March 6, 2014 regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed

regarding the rates associated with his electric account. During this

call, we discussed with [redacted]. [redacted] the below findings and facts outlined in

**. [redacted]’s complaint.

Review: I am a [redacted] customer. I signed with this company in August 2013 for generation and transmission of electricity at a rate of .0791. I switched to Dominion as of December 23, 2013 for a better rate of .0694. However, that company takes over as of the February meter reading. Pa. gas and electric charged .2372 per kwh as of my January 27th meter reading. That is triple the cost. Isn't there any protection from price gouging. This took my electric bill from $226.90 to $589.75. for the same amount of electricity. This is a huge financial hardship for everyone it is happening to. The company takes your phone number and tells you that you will receive a return phone call. I called several times. This does not happen. Their customer service response is that increase cost is due to high demand. Can these companies charge whatever they please with no ceiling caps? I have requested a hardship adjustment since I am on total disability. The company does not respond at all. I have had to pay this ridiculous bill to [redacted]. They have offered to set up a budget plan to help me, but that does not diminish the fact that I was grossly overcharged for this service by Pennsylvania Gas and Electric.Desired Settlement: I have had to pay [redacted] the full bill in the amount of $589.75. The Pa. Gas and Electric portion of the bill was $506.17. I want it recalculated at the December rate of .1105, which was already way higher than when I signed up. That rate would have cost me $235.80 (2134 kwh at .1105) . They charged me 2134 kwh at .2372 =$506.18. I AM REQUESTING A REFUND CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $270.00

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) left voice messages for [redacted] on February 20 and 21, 2014, regarding the complaint **. [redacted] filed concerning the rates associated with her electric account and alleged rebate **. [redacted] feels is owed to her for her electric account. PAG&E attempted to resolve the issues outlined **. [redacted]’s complaint; however, we were not successful in doing so, as to date, we have not received a return call from [redacted].

Review: Received bill from Electric company. Rate for electricity has substantially increased ( approx. 3x usual rate).

Bill for my 2000 sq. ft house for period Jan-Feb 2014 was $1354.76.

Contacted PG&E for explaination. Spoke to customer representative on March 17, 2014, who assured me that I would be contacted by company.

No one has contacted me.Desired Settlement: Bill needs to be adjusted.

Business

Response:

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric (“PAG&E”) contacted **. [redacted] on April 4, 2014, concerning the complaint **. [redacted] filed in regards to the rates associated with her electric account. During our conversation with **. [redacted], PAG&E discussed the following facts and findings.