The Allegheny Chapter of ACORN held a brief rally today outside the State Office Building, Downtown, to demand utility companies not cut off heat to poor customers this winter.
The rally was in response to a problem East Liberty resident Calvin Glover had with Equitable Gas Co. Mr. Glover, an unemployed photographer and office assistant, said the utility shut off his heat Tuesday, claiming he was behind on payments.
Mr. Glover said he owed $900 but was current on his payment plan and tried to explain that to the Equitable technician who arrived to shut off his heat. Mr. Glover said the heat was turned off anyway, leaving him, his wife, Angela, and four children in the cold. ACORN organizer Maryellen Hayden said service was restored last night after the Glovers got help from a local crisis office and the Dollar Energy Fund.
However, Equitable spokesman Dave Spigelmyer said the Glovers had made only four of their monthly payments in the last 12 months. He said the family's bill already is subsidized about 50 percent through the company's Customer Assistance Program.
In all, he said, 12,000 customers benefit from the CAP program. He also encouraged struggling families to apply for Dollar Energy Fund, Crisis Office and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program money.
Mr. Spigelmyer said Equitable this year is making $2 million available to help needy customers, $1 million each to the Dollar Energy Fund and the customer grant program.
About 10 protesters from the community group went into the State Office Building and complained to Allen Kukovich, Gov. Ed Rendell's chief representative in Pittsburgh. The protesters then went to Equitable's North Side offices.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rendell said today another aspect has been added to his Stay Warm PA initiative: a toll-free telephone number that citizens throughout the commonwealth can use to get help and information about their winter heating bills.
By calling 866-550-4355, residents can get immediate information about restoring utility services, paying their heating bills, fixing residential heating systems and locating available shelters in their area. People may also use the special number to learn what they can do to help their neighbors get through the winter.
The Stay Warm PA initiative, unveiled in October, will add $30 million this winter for income energy assistance.
First Published: December 1, 2005, 5:00 a.m.
