Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Wendell F. Holland this week released the following statement about a special visitor who will join the PUC on Nov. 18 to help urge Pennsylvanians to prepare for the winter months:

"A couple of weeks ago, this Commission hosted energy industry experts on the conditions that may affect supply, price and service reliability of natural gas this winter, and ways consumers can prepare for colder weather.

"Those experts were very helpful, but I wanted to bring in a true national winter weather expert -- someone who also is a Pennsylvania treasure and success story -- to help us urge our natural gas customers to 'Prepare Now' for cold weather.

"That's why I am proud to announce that Punxsutawney Phil will be here after the Commission's Public Meeting on Nov. 18th to help us launch a special awareness campaign in preparation for winter. We want to work with Phil, with the $1 Energy Fund and with our utilities to tell Pennsylvanians that now is the time to plan, to winterize your home, to conserve energy and to learn about programs to help you cope with the effects of colder weather.

"Why bring Punxsutawney Phil to the Commission? If Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. Which means that we all need to prepare for six more weeks of winter. In the coming weeks, we'll be talking a lot more about Punxsutawney Phil and about preparing for colder weather."

Punxsutawney Phil is partnering this fall with $1 Energy Fund and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to encourage customers to apply for heating assistance grants and to raise awareness of $1 Energy Fund's programs. The $1 Energy Fund helps the state's seniors and low-income customers to pay their utility bills.

11/8/2004