April 16th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
A caller to WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Monday voicing concern with the practices used by Potomac Edison in accessing her monthly bill. It appears she has plenty of company as the Maryland Public Service Commission in Baltimore is launching an investigation into complaints that Potomac Edison overbilled some Western Maryland electricity customers by failing to read their meters as often as required. The agency opened a case file last Tuesday on customer complaints that their meters were read less often than every other month, as required by law. The case stems from complaints made last summer, including those filed last May by the former Frederick-based Sugarloaf Conservancy. The civil preservation group said Potomac Edison read their members’ meters an average of four times during a 13-month period in 2011 and 2012. The complaints allege that the practice resulted in usage estimates that exceeded the amount of electricity consumed. Potomac Edison, which is owned by FirstEnergy Corp., of Akron, Ohio, acknowledged in July that it missed some readings, but said its estimates were fair. Company officials then said they would put more meter readers in the field.
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