Public utilities have increased pressure on customers to pay their bills, leading to a greater number of consumer complaints to the state Public Service Commission, officials say.
The amount of money owed by delinquent customers is growing, meaning reliable customers must be charged extra to keep the utilities’ budgets balanced, company spokesmen say.
“Our uncollectibles keep increasing every year,” said Diane Kipperty, accounts receivable manager at Wisconsin Gas. “Frankly, we do not think it is fair to our other customers.”
Complaints to the commission in the first six months of 1997 against Wisconsin Electric Power Co. rose 157 percent compared with the same period last year. Ameritech consumer grievances have grown 110 percent. Wisconsin Gas is up 29 percent.
Most of the complaints are from customers who report the utilities are making greater efforts to collect overdue payments while being less lenient about offering terms, said commission spokeswoman Mary Pat Lytle.
