PUCO plan allows utility reconnection

PUCO plan allows utility reconnection

columbus

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered Ohio electric and natural-gas utilities Wednesday to reconnect or maintain service to customers who have been disconnected or threatened with disconnection due to nonpayment of their utility bill. The order also applies to customers seeking to establish new service.

Under the plan, customers who have been disconnected due to nonpayment can have service restored if they pay the amount owed or $175, whichever is less, plus a reconnection fee of no more than $36.

There is no income- eligibility requirement, but the plan requires the customer to sign up for a payment plan to pay the past-due balance on their utility bill. Customers may use the plan only one time between Oct. 18, 2010, and April 15, 2011.

Customers with questions regarding their utility service should contact PUCO’s Consumer Call Center at 800-686-PUCO.

Cruze audio system beats competitors’

detroit

Professional audio judges from the Mobile Electronics Competition Association recently picked the audio system in the Chevrolet Cruze over that of the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, two major competitors. MECA judges evaluated sound volume, audio fidelity and listening experience, ranking the Cruze first in two out of three evaluations. The Cruze took first place overall with an average of 74.83 points out of 100, compared with 69.75 for Corolla and 58.83 for Civic.

Vindicator staff/wire report