Credit Scoring
The Impact on Low Income Households of “Credit Scoring” To Determine Who Must Pay a Deposit To Obtain Utility Service
NASUCA 2003 Annual Meeting November 16 - 19, Atlanta Georgia Issues Affecting Low-Income Customers
Testimony and Exhibits from New York PSC Proceeding On Use of “Credit Scoring” to Determine Utility Customer Deposit Requirements
PSC Case 03-M-0772 – Petition of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for Authorization to Request Security Deposits from Applicants for Residential Service Filed in Case 25695
Links below are to testimony sponsored by PULP against the proposal of Niagara Mohawk (National Grid) to deny electricity or natural gas service without a deposit to applicants with Equifax scores below 812.
PULP Testimony by Dr. Trudi Renwick 07-24-2003
Exhibits 1-4 for Dr. Renwick
Exhibits 10-13 for Dr. Renwick
After evidentiary hearings in July-August 2003 were concluded, confidential negotiations ensued.
In September 2003 Niagara Mohawk (National Grid), PSC staff, and the New York Consumer Protection Board (CPB) announced their agreement to an alternative “joint proposal.” If approved by the New York PSC, the company could annually require deposits from up to 100,000 current customers with bills more than 60 days in arrears and up to 12,000 applicants for service with arrears from a prior closed account.
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