HARRISBURG – Taking the first major step toward protecting local residents from skyrocketing electric bills, the state House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), to bring additional oversight to the business and spending practices of Ellwood City Borough’s electric company.
“Today’s vote was a big win for Ellwood City residents,” Bernstine said. “We are one step closer to stopping the egregious behaviors of Ellwood City electric through legislative oversight.”
House Bill 2030 would require more uniform and reasonable rate structures to be adopted by the borough-run electric company. Specifically, the bill would require the Borough of Ellwood City to calculate its electric rates based on several factors, including staff costs, repairs, debt service and more. The rates would then be locked in for three months, with opportunities for readjustment at the end of each three-month period.
“Families, individuals and especially our seniors on fixed incomes deserve predictability and fairness in their monthly utility costs,” Bernstine said.
Bernstine also noted that the proposal would stop the use of Ellwood City electric as a taxation tool.
“Ellwood City residents are unfairly trapped in a modern-day electric monopoly, and it’s being used to compensate for poor spending decisions,” he said. “This legislation would force Ellwood City to operate like the other 98.6 percent of local governments in Pennsylvania.”
Bernstine pointed to an example in 2016, when Ellwood City overcharged its electric customers to fill a $1.45 million hole in its general fund budget. This amounted to nearly 30 percent of its entire $5 million budget.
House Bill 2030 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“I’ve been working with Sen. Elder Vogel and other community and state officials to increase consumer protections, and I’m happy to report we’ve cleared the first hurdle.”
# # #
Debra Brehm
House Republican Communications
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania HB 722 would establish a nonpartisan, independent and transparent citizens group to draw future legislative and congressional voting maps.
On April 11, 2018 state Reps. Daryl METCALFE, (R-PA 12), Aaron “AJ” BERNSTINE (R-PA 10), and Jim MARSHALL (R-PA 14) not only gutted this bill, but crafted an amendment that keeps the drawing of voting districts in the hands of those legislators already in power, with no oversight from any other branch of government.
Remember, don’t listen to what AJ says; WATCH VERY CAREFULLY WHAT HE DOES.
AJ is determined to destroy Ellwood City; a borough that did NOT have a single ward vote for him.
AJ is unresponsive to any inquiries. Surprised?
AB recently posted on one of the FB PAGES that ” this Bill would not eliminate the electric company as many of you are hoping for or think. Those of you that continue to bash the workers of our town have something wrong with you! I fond it very interesting that there are only a select few that have caused this mess and simply cant manage your own lives, so its everyone else fault that has a good job and or makes a decent living. Some of you who also attack our police should be ashamed of yourself! I also find it hilarious that some of you have mismanaged your lives so bad and have sucked from the government over and over again continue to stick your hand out when you give nothing back to the community. All of you that say you are going to move, please go and find another town to complain in and rack up utility bills that you never pay. The ones complaining are the repeat offenders that jump from rental to rental sticking others with their bills, if you notice its a nice comfort in knowing that they cant do this in Ellwood until their bills are paid.