Last night on a Sacramento tv station I heard a story about PG&E billing problems. The utility put in a new system, in August 99, I believe and "tens of thousands" of customers have not been billed lately. Interviews with a couple customers showed them to have called about the lack of a bill, but nothing was done. The PG&E spokesperson said they were taking care of it, and the problem seemed to be confined to new customers.

A quick search failed to turn up a newspaper account of this but someone else might have more time and luck, if so interested.

-- johno (jobriy2k@yahoo.com), January 14, 2000

Answers

Mabey the customers will end up standing in line with fistfulls of cash to bay their bills. Think so?

-- Earl (earl.shuholm@worldnet.att.net), January 14, 2000.

Someone on the forum commented about this before. Maybe 2 or 3 posters. Diane S. might know.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), January 14, 2000.

You can bet it won't be y2k related. The media said it was over.

-- Larry (cobol.programmer@usa.net), January 14, 2000.

It's the "new customer" billing system that is the problem. There's a maratorium on shutting off customers unless it's in fact a bill that has been sent and the customer cannot pay. Yes there is a snafu going on with PG&E billing along with some other problems as well. Like the rate case decision that keeps getting pushed back, and consumer utility watchdogs are not happy about money that was suppose to go for maintenace and tree trimming was wasted on other frivilous stuff. PG&E also will not announce their earnings until the rate case has been decided. This is my own opinion, but look for cuts in customers services (offices closing). PG&E anounced a few months back that 3,500 positions will be cut, 1,500 in management and the remainder in tree trimming and customer services. I don't know how many customers are affected with the billing problem, but it may have an effect on revenues, JMHO.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 14, 2000.