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Answers elusive on end of electric discount
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - November 04, 2009)
Answers elusive on end of electric discount
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Rich Jordan, of Munson Township, is on a mission.
"I hope to get something started to see how we can get this overturned," the Twin Mills Lane resident said last week.
What Mr. Jordan is looking to overturn is what he said he believes is an injustice created by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co.
Twenty-seven years ago, Mr. Jordan built his home with the idea of making it all electric. It was a plan that would bring savings in utility costs, because CEI was offering discounts for all-electric homes.
However, while inquiring this year about a bill that seemed high, he learned that his discount had disappeared without a word.
Now, he said, his chances to convert to other utilities, such as gas, have passed him by, and he is looking at an investment of $5,000 to $10,000 to convert.
He said he looked to his legislative leaders for help, but all he got was no response or letters telling him to try the utility or another legislator.
Last week, Mr. Jordan may have finally found an ear. Going before the Munson Township Trustees, he said he hopes that he may have found an ally in his fight. "This has to be done on a bigger level," he said.
He said he hopes that initial support from trustees will rally others to his cause and force CEI to give back what originally was promised.
Trustee Andy Bushman said he would contact CEI to learn how many Munson residents may be affected by the discontinuing of the discount. Mr. Bushman said he also would contact the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, a consortium of local governments that uses bulk purchases of utilities.
Mr. Bushman said he hopes NOPEC may be interested in offering a discount to those CEI has abandoned.
Trustee Todd Ray said he sympathizes with Mr. Jordan. "It's an important fairness issue," he said. "These people have made investments into their homes to receive discounts and now that's been scuttled."
He said those, like Mr. Jordan, made additional investments in their homes that they wouldn't have otherwise on promises of discounts that now seem to be gone.
Calls to Mia Moore, area manager for CEI, went unreturned.
Mr. Ray said he would bring the issue before the Geauga County Townships Association, an organization he serves as president.
If nothing else, he said, bringing it to that organization will at least serve to get word out that residents are being affected by changes in CEI policy.
He said it is "blatantly unfair" for CEI to unilaterally cancel the program without giving notice.
Mr. Ray said township officials would like to learn whether it's 20 residents or 2,000 residents that are affected by the former discount program. "It doesn't change the fact that it's unfair whether it's 20 or 2,000," he said. "But, if it's a smaller number, it may be easier for CEI to dismiss us."
Like Mr. Jordan, getting people's attention to the situation is the hope," Mr. Ray said.
"We hope to muster a little attention through our legislators and local officials," Mr. Ray said. "If they hear from trustees, then it might get their attention."
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