Allegheny Energy's "Free" Bulbs, No such thing as a free bulb Options

[Snoopy]

Does anyone else feel like we were shafted by the PSC and Allegheny Energy over this one?

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

Usually if you are sent something in the US Mail you did not order you cannot be charged for it. Seems AE circumvented that. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[SMan]

I'm assuming you're joking McGee, but if you're not, don't think those bloodsuckers are above cutting your power and sending a couple buck shortage to collections.

[CleverNameGoesHe...]

for everyone who hasn't seen the most recent article about this, which was in today's H-M:

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

among other things, the article states that the surcharge on all of our bills was approved by the Public Service Commission and payment "is not optional". (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) sorry McGee!

[siriunsun]

for everyone who hasn't seen the most recent article about this, which was in today's H-M:

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

among other things, the article states that the surcharge on all of our bills was approved by the Public Service Commission and payment "is not optional". (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) sorry McGee!

If Allegheny Power could have competition, would they be doing this?

[Mcgee]

Yes, I was joking, you should know me by now.

Hell I don`t care what they do. I`m on the budget plan anyway.

[SMan]

I figured you were, but I wanted to put that out there for any impressionable youngsters that may be reading. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Udmas]

A Maryland state delegate said Tuesday he will introduce a bill that would prohibit utilities from sending customers unsolicited light bulbs and adding the cost to their monthly bills.

Kevin Kelly, D-Allegany, objected to an Allegheny Power promotion aimed at encouraging consumers to switch to energy-efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs. The company sent a pair of the bulbs to each of its 220,000 Western Maryland customers and is billing them $11.52, spread out over 12 months as a 96-cent surcharge.

The program was approved by the state Public Service Commission, an independent state agency that regulates state utilities.

He should introduce a bill and it should be passed because apparently the PSC has entirely to much power.

Customers who do not want to waste unwanted bulbs may contact their manufacturer, Niagra Conservation, to ask about sending them back, a representative said.

Why would anyone send them back to the manufacturer, I would think if your pissed and want to send them back you would send them to Allegheny.

The company didn't tell customers they would be paying for the bulbs when it announced the program in September, but Meyers said that information was available in public filings with the PSC.

So they didn't tell their customers because they figured the customers would contact the PSC to find out if this was going to cost them anything. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Bentcorner]

Looks like we made it to one of my favorite websites, The Consumerist. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Rude: Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12

[Yossarian]

Good site... I hadn't seen that one before.

I'm still waiting for it to hit FARK.com... then we'll know we've made the big time.

Apparently Annapolis is looking into this, also.

I still think AP should be charged with mail fraud. But then, if found guilty, they'll pay the fine and pass it along to the consumers as some bogus surcharge.

[Bentcorner]

Good site... I hadn't seen that one before.

I'm still waiting for it to hit FARK.com... then we'll know we've made the big time.

Apparently Annapolis is looking into this, also.

I still think AP should be charged with mail fraud. But then, if found guilty, they'll pay the fine and pass it along to the consumers as some bogus surcharge.

There was a comment left on The Consumerist that was very interesting:

"There are boxes upon boxes of these at Fry's Electronics, each with a sticker on them that says they're discounted courtesy of San Diego Gas & Electric. I've seen them as low as 96 cents each. Home Depot had a 4-pack for 2.99 right around Christmas."

I wish the H-M would do some looking into this info to see if it's true. Maybe they could call Fry Electronics and ask them if they are selling surplus florescent bulbs from an electric company.

[BlueBirder]

Post #1


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If you think that it was nervy of Allegheny Power to send you unsolicited light bulbs and then charge you for them you can request a complaint form by calling 1-800-492-0472 (Maryland Public Commission) www.psc.state.md.us/psc or you can also call Allegheny customer service center at 1-800-255-3443.

The persons who have post office boxes will not even be getting the bulbs but will be charged anyway. It seems that the post office cannot deliver mail that had a street address on them instead of the post office number, so they were sent back by the post office. How would you like that insult to injury!

It seems to me that we are losing more and more of our rights and freedoms and also we are being taxed and charged and pushed around by big brother without any concern for our wellbeing. People are losing their homes and the elderly are unable to afford health care.

Our Government needs to start looking out for us.

[CleverNameGoesHe...]

Another front-page story on the light bulb issue in today's H-M -

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

When I watched the 6:00 news on NBC25 last night I was very surprised to see no reports whatsoever on this story. I thought maybe in a moment of distraction (I was cooking dinner) that I missed it, but when I went to www.your4state.com this morning and did a search I found nothing. Anyone else think this is a little odd? It certainly does seem like a big story to me. NBC25 has been running a new set of commercials about how they're "going green". Hmm.

[Bentcorner]

If I'm understand this whole story correctly - and I'm not sure I am - we aren't paying for the light bulbs. We are paying for some kind of hokey conservation education program that includes giving florescent bulbs to everyone participating in the program. The idea is that we aren't really paying for the light bulbs.

If it sounds scummy, that's because it is. Scalpers pull the same trick. I remember how they were selling tickets to a Barbara Streisand concert that sold out in minutes. Scalpers were selling "packages" to fans with a 1000% markup. They were able to do this because they weren't actually selling the tickets, but the package. The package only included the ticket and a ball point pen.

I guess we will eventual use the bulbs. We switched to florescent bulbs over a year ago. Every bulb we have in the house is a florescent. Being that one of the benefits of these bulbs is that they last forever and we already have a case of these sitting on a shelf, I honestly don't know when I will get around to using these "free" bulbs.

It may be years from now.

What bothers me is that this sets a precedent. Other companies will now be able to do the very same thing. I can see a company that makes car baby seats contact the Maryland DMV and workout some deal where they send every registered driver in the state of Maryland a car seat and then charge them for it. Next time you go to renew your driver's licence, there will be a $100 child safety education fee tacked on. Never mind that many drivers don't need a baby car seat.

Many electric customers don't need florescent bulbs. Customers like me.

[siriunsun]

Good site... I hadn't seen that one before.

I'm still waiting for it to hit FARK.com... then we'll know we've made the big time.

Apparently Annapolis is looking into this, also.

I still think AP should be charged with mail fraud. But then, if found guilty, they'll pay the fine and pass it along to the consumers as some bogus surcharge.

Can't their rates be frozen for a couple of years as a punitive measure? And can't surcharges be scrutinzed and prohibited for awhile as well? I would be asking my representatives these things if I still lived in Maryland. It's not the 12.00; it's the fact that yours truly would NEVER get away with breaking the law, even if she wanted to. Heck......for that matter, yours truly has to fight for the right to be LAW ABIDING at times! Why is Allegheny Power not subject to the law as well?

[Mcgee]

Rowdy has a E- Mail going around about the bulbs. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[aboonsbororeside...]

Send your over-priced light bulbs back to Agony Power at:

Agony Power
800 Cabin Hill Dr.
Greensburg, PA 15606

and watch http://www.agonypower.com beginning Sunday for details on Agony's new Trendy Appliance program.