PSC’s Campbell Urges Investigation into Utilities Selling ‘Protection Plans’ for Wiring and Gas Lines – Bossier Now

No doubt you have received the important time sensitive mail regarding the future repair of your homes gas lines. Many Bossier Parish residents have seen the important information regarding your gas line mailers a thinly-veiled sales pitch from CenterPoint Energy for a home warranty program.

All interior gas lines are the homeowners responsibility, the mailing says, detailing the estimated costs for the repair or replacement of gas lines and components.

District 5 Commissioner Foster Campbell has asked the Louisiana Public Service Commission to investigate such home-warranty programs promoted to thousands of CenterPoint Energy and SWEPCO customers.

We owe it to the people we serve to look at this, Campbell said during the LPSCs monthly meeting, held Wednesday by teleconference because of the coronavirus.

I think SWEPCO and CenterPoint should be in the utility business, not the insurance business, Campbell added.

In his argument Campbell cited a 1991 LPSC order prohibiting utilities from directly engaging in the sale, installation or service of any type of residential equipment or appliance.

He said the Louisiana utilities appear to be using Connecticut-based HomeServe to skirt the order by employing HomeServe to shield the companies from direct involvement in activities prohibited by the Commission order.

Campbell said he has received complaints from Louisiana contractors concerned that HomeServe would hire low-bid, unqualified electricians and plumbers to do repair service on SWEPCO and CenterPoint customer homes.He also cited marketing materials from HomeServe using SWEPCO and CenterPoint logos and carrying messages that could be misunderstood by consumers.

If you get a letter from your utility you dont throw it away, Campbell said, especially if it carries messages like Important Information Enclosed and quotes deadlines to sign up.

Campbell asked LPSC staff to conduct a thorough review of the HomeServe offerings and report back to members of the Commission at their February 2021 meeting.

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PSC's Campbell Urges Investigation into Utilities Selling 'Protection Plans' for Wiring and Gas Lines - Bossier Now