Once again the Public Utility Commission has shown us that the word "public" should be removed from its title, for it does not represent the needs of the public, only those of the utilities.
By 1999, utility choice was supposed to allow Pennsylvania consumers the ability to select a provider of their choice. With this area having among the highest gas and electric rates in the country, one would expect providers to be scrambling to bid for our dollars. But few providers appeared.
Electric suppliers just didn't seem interested, except for "green" providers whose price exceeded that of Duquesne Light. Gas competition was limited to Equitable Gas and, you guessed it, Dominion Peoples.
Now, our venerable "UC" has taken away our single choice in gas suppliers -- the people's only voice against ever-higher gas prices. Why?
It's time to take a look at the wisdom of having a "UC" at all and to look at opening the doors to the free-market system.
Separating the delivery system and the supplier completely, and allowing any and all companies to compete for the public's dollar, surely couldn't be any worse than the current system, where the consumer has no one looking out for him.
Mike LipayPlum
