The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has directed parties involved in a dispute about what might be unsafe electric utility lines in an Oil City neighborhood to try and work out a solution.
Jennifer Hickman filed a formal complaint late in the summer with the PUC in an effort to force Penelec to recognize problems with aging and faulty power lines and transformers and replace them. Penelec is the electric utility company serving Oil City.
At issue were a curious buzz, power brownouts, electrical arcing and damaged home appliances as a result of what Hickman and others claim are electric lines that are old and don’t have the capacity to handle the electric service.
The complaint to the PUC, though, is squarely focused on hardware and an outdated infrastructure, said the Rev. Tim Harmon, pastor of Second Presbyterian Church. He is assisting Hickman in her legal pursuit by gathering information and preparing documents.
“We filed the complaint and the PUC told us that the two parties should try to work out a solution through informal mediation. If nothing comes of that, we will go to a full hearing,” said Harmon. “The PUC didn’t just dismiss it so we are able to continue with this. There are systems to resolve this and we are working through them.”
The two sides have until Nov. 30 to schedule a meeting. That deadline could change if attorneys for Penelec and Hickman ask for an extension.
Hickman is being represented by William Cisek, an attorney with the Franklin law firm of Wilson, Thompson and Cisek.
Complaint is specific
“Our hope is to have this come to a conclusion,” said Harmon. “The complaint is specific to mechanical issues.”
Those issues include electric lines, transformers and related equipment that the complaint insists are antiquated and don’t have the necessary capacity to relay power.
The present system is causing dangerous conditions such as arcing at transformer sites as well as service interruptions for appliances, lighting, electronic devices and more.
In the PUC complaint, Hickman, who has documentation of interior and exterior electric problems as well as letters of support from dozens of South Side residents, is asking Penelec to replace its electric lines on Front, North, Innis and Wyllis streets. That area as well as the work could expand should an inspection show additional electric line problems.
“We have compiled documentation from individuals and the information contains actual dates and times about incidents, including one that involved significant property damage,” said Harmon. “We’re focused on getting to the root of the problem.”
Hickman and Harmon are working closely with state Sen. Scott Hutchinson of Oil City who has assisted with preparing the complaint filed with the PUC.
“He has been very helpful, very supportive,” said Harmon, who said earlier that members of his congregation who live in the neighborhood have expressed concerns about the utility service. “We hope we can work this out in an informal mediation but we will not back down. We are willing to go to a full hearing.”
