Georgia Power backs off late fees

ATLANTA - Faced with customer complaints and pressure from state regulators, Georgia Power is backing away from its plan to charge late fees on bills not paid within 14 days. <br> <br> The state&#39;s largest electric utility said Thursday that it will give customers more time to pay. <br> <br> In December, the utility won approval from the state Public Service Commission to impose late fees for the first time in decades. In April, the utility began sending out monthly bills that included warnings, which Georgia Power spokesman John Sell says were intended ``to encourage people to pay bills on time.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> But 28 consumers called the PSC to complain, an unusually high number for Georgia Power, according to PSC staff. <br> <br> The utility quickly agreed to ease off after PSC member Robert Baker told Georgia Power officials at a meeting Thursday that consumers need a reasonable time to pay their bills. <br> <br> Technically, power bills still will be due within 14 days, but the utility will allow an additional seven days before consumers would be subject to late fees.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/8/190715