供電合同競爭激烈 麻州居民在過去6年間損失5億餘元

麻州總檢察長 Andrea Campbell日前出席大波士頓商會政府事務論壇。
 (檔案照片，周菊子攝

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州總檢察官辦公室公佈一份報告，稱供電商之間的激烈競爭，讓個別麻州居民在過去6年間共多交了5億2500萬元電費，通過總檢察官Andrea Campbell和麻州參議員Brendan Crighton，以及眾議員Frank Moran早前所提法案，顯得更形重要。

                這些個別麻州居民如果不換電力公司，就不必多交這麼多錢。

                麻州總檢察官辦公室估計，目前約有43萬個別麻州居民是向競爭供電業者購買電力，平均一年各損失231元，是該辦公室迄今所見最高額的年度平均損失。

                麻州總檢察官辦公室這報告發現的主要重點包括，在調查期間，麻州內的低收入客戶和競爭性供電商簽約的可能，比非低收入客戶高2倍，而且費率更高。假設一個月用電600千瓦小時，非低收入客戶平均每年損失222元，低收入客戶則損失254元。因為費率更高，低收入客戶在調查期間共損失2000萬元，持續損失的客戶不成比例的分散於麻州門戶城市中，低收入，以及有色人種聚居的區域號碼範圍內，包括春田市，屋斯特市，秋河市，以及羅爾市。

             麻州總檢察官辦公室鼓勵居民舉報這類瞞騙的市場行銷做法。麻州總檢察官辦公室的消費者熱線電話為(617) 727-8400。消費者也可至電洽詢麻州公共設施處的消費者組(877) 886-5066。

MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS LOST $525 MILLION THROUGH COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTRACTS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS  

New Report Finds Consumers Continue to Lose Millions of Dollars from Contracts with Suppliers and That Consumers in Low-Income Communities, Communities of Color and Gateway Communities Are Disproportionately Harmed 

 

BOSTON– Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a report that found that in the last six years, individual residential customers who received their electric supply from competitive suppliers paid $525 million more on their electric bills than they would have paid if they stayed with their utility companies.

 

This is the fourth report from the AG’s Office that shows that residents who enroll with these companies continue to overpay for electric supply by tens of millions of dollars each year. Overall, the approximately 430,000 individual residential customers in the state who are currently enrolled with competitive suppliers on average lost $231 a year – the highest average annual loss reported by the AG’s Office to date. 

 

“This report once again sounds the alarm on competitive electric supply companies that pitch consumers on the idea of cheaper electricity bills, while they charge higher rates that drain millions from our communities,” said AG Campbell. “We know this injustice hits communities of color and low-income communities the hardest, and my office will continue to draw attention to these predatory actions and advocate for legislation that will protect our residents.” 

 

Today’s report highlights the urgent need to pass legislation that AG Campbell, Senator Brendan Crighton and Representative Frank Moran filed earlier this year that will ban these companies from signing up new individual residential customers in Massachusetts. 

 

Keyfindings in this report include: 

·                 Low-income customers in Massachusetts are nearly twice as likely to sign up with individual competitive electric suppliers and that they are also charged higher rates than non-low-income customers.  

·                 Assuming 600 kWh/month usage, an average non-low-income customer lost $222 per year while the average low-income customer lost $254 per year, during the study period. 

·                 Low-income customers collectively lost over $20 million on net in higher rates and monthly fees, during the study period   

·                 The continuation of consumer losses is disproportionately borne by residents in zip codes with a higher concentration of low-income and residents of color in many of the state’s Gateway Cities, including Springfield, Worcester, Fall River and Lowell. 

Anyresident with concerns about these deceptive marketing practices should file a complaint with the AG’s Office or call the consumer hotline at (617) 727-8400. Residents with questions can also contact the Consumer Division of the Department of Public Utilities at (877) 886-5066.  

 

This matter is being handled by Division Chief Nathan Forster, Deputy Division Chief Elizabeth Anderson, and all of AG Campbell’s Energy and Telecommunications Division.