Sen Mikulski Requests Hearings on Utility Standards

[Lynx]

http://mikulski.senate.gov/media/pressrelease/2-7-11.cfm

This came about because of a major power failure in suburban Maryland last week. Sad to say, I was caught up in it.
Now our electric utility, Pepco, has become famous for both lousy maintenance and abysmal customer service. Pepco constantly scores in the bottom 25% of all utilities. Its excuse? "You have too many trees!" Turns out, we don't.
My own power outage was around 60 hours. At my age I don't do well in extreme temps. The temp in my house got to 43. If it weren't for my cat's prodding me to get up and keep moving, well, I don't want to know what could have happened. It was truly a horrible experience. Pepco was totally unprepared for a fast and powerful storm, its grid has been weak for years, and its treatment of ratepayers was berneath contempt.
I welcome these hearings, because Pepco is truly beyond hope, and any utility which cannot meet a minimum standard has no right to be certified.

[CC]

1. Glad she is trying to do something too.

I know Gov. O'Malley was PO'd. I'm hoping he can get the statehouse to work with him for a state law in the meantime. Be sure to write letters to the editor of The Sun about your experiences. Oh and to your reps.

[elleng]

2. I heard some sort of interview today: 'We'll do better.'

Was on radio early afternoon; don't know with whom.

Power out here in SilSpg about 62 hours; went to motel in Laurel 2 nights.