Like many cascading failures, it all started with a software glitch. It ended up with Peco Energy facing $225,000 in
Due to a coding glitch in the phone-dialing software, a large number of customers did not receive a phone call at least 72 hours before their service was shutoff in 2018 for nonpayment, as the law requires. Peco reported the problem at the time to the PUC, power was restored to most customers within three days, and the issue was believed to have been resolved.
Thursday’s settlement, approved by 3-0 vote, initially came before the PUC in May 2021, when the commission approvedBut new information came to light. But Peco was unable to refund about $321,000 in reconnection fees because the customers were no longer receiving Peco service. Under the settlement, Peco will contribute the orphaned $321,000 in refund money to the Matching Energy Assistance Fund, which provides grants to about 750 customers a year who face service termination.