Incoming state rep. calls for House hearing on Ellwood City electric bill issues

While the borough continues to assert that electric bills are accurate, many Ellwood City residents said there’s an issue.

Now, an incoming Pennsylvania representative is asking state leaders to get involved.

“You never know what you’re going to get, whether it’s going to be a high bill or a low bill,” said Ellwood City resident Megan Mandelli.

Erika Coppess, another Ellwood City resident, said she – like many others in Ellwood City – are frustrated with their electric bills.

“Two months ago I had to pay $355 on my bill. I can’t afford that, I’m on a fixed income and I’m not working,” Coppess said.

The borough owns the utility, which some officials, like incoming state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, said is the problem.

“The issue isn’t necessarily Ellwood Electric. The issue is how Ellwood Electric is used,” Bernstine, a Republican from Ellwood City, said.

He is taking the issue to Harrisburg, calling for a House field hearing on the issue. He said residents need to hold the borough accountable at the polls for the inconsistent bills.

“They need to get their budget under control. Until that happens there’s going to continue to be a spending problem that they will try to fill by using the electric company as a taxation tool,” he said.

The borough flatly denies the accusation.

“I’m really disappointed people are making statements without having all of the facts,” Ellwood City Council President Connie MacDonald said, denying that the borough is doing anything wrong in how it charges customers.

MacDonald pointed to annual audits that show no problems with the way Ellwood Electric operates, adding it’s the fairest way to do electricity since the profits stay in the community.

“We provide services throughout the area, and those services cost people money. That’s the reason we have the taxes and electric charges that we have,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said the borough is in the process of changing its billing method to provide more detailed information to customers on their electric usage, though it’s not clear when that change will take effect.

Cox Media Group