THOUSANDS of homeowners have been hit by bizarre billing glitches – with some PECO customers receiving $12,000 invoices and past due notices.
The extortionate bills came after months of no contact from the energy firm, who piled on months of previous bills together in one invoice.
American homeowners have been charged with invoices of up to $12,000[/caption]
One outraged customer, Poisey Brown, told CBS News she had been charged nearly $12,000 according to her latest bill.
When she saw the gob-smacking invoice, she said: “There’s no way.”
The Norristown local said it was the first PECO bill she’d received in months.
She told how she had been making partial payments while trying to get a proper explanation from the firm.
But she said her claims weren’t being taken seriously.
She said: “I really try to stay on top of it because when August came and I didn’t receive a bill, I called them and I asked them, ‘Can I know what my bill is?’”
She was even told over the phone that PECO couldn’t see her bill.
There have been other reports of PECO customers receiving huge bills.
Ann Palladino, in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, also told the outlet she had gone an entire year without receiving a bill.
“My daughter told me to contact you because she was tired of me complaining about it,” she said.
“For people who are used to having their bills fully paid and on time, it’s disconcerting.”
A PECO spokesperson said that some 20,000 customers had been impacted by strange billing issues since last fall.
They added that the problem may have been a the result of a transition to a new billing system last year.
But they were unable to explain why certain customers were impacted while others were not.
The firm has taken on 60 new associates and set up a dedicated email to help victims of the glitch.
The Southeast Delegation of Pennsylvania House Democrats sent an open letter to PECO, demanding answers and slamming the utility company for not fixing the problem as soon as possible.
PECO said it had resolved many of the issues and continued to work daily to address any remaining concerns.
The firm said “We appreciate the Southeast Delegation’s attention to billing issues affecting our customers and thank those who signed the letter for the opportunity to engage.
“We’ve responded, reaffirming our commitment to resolving these concerns.”
PECO said that Brown’s extortionate bill was caused by a meter programming error that led to an inaccurate usage calculation.
The utility company said her balance had since been corrected and they had waived late fees.
The customer now owes them around $900.
Brown said she agreed to a payment plan – but said she feels PECO should’ve treated the situation differently.
PECO charged customers extortionate amounts[/caption]
