Complaint Review: West Penn Power - greensburg Pennsylvania

 I have been a forced customer of West Penn Power for the last year and a half. I say forced as you effectively have no say in whom supplies your electricity in Pennsylvania. My issues with them stem from the beginning when I moved into my new home, previously being an "Allegheny Power" customer and having to pay a $160 security deposit as they stated that I was never an account holder and that it was customary for all new accounts. Despite my attempts to fight it, I did so as they leave you no choice. My latest run in is severely more corrupt / dishonest. I received my bill for the month of November and it was six (6!!!) times higher than my standard bill. I do my own investigation and notice that West Penn Power has provided me with 5 estimates in a row followed by not registering any service for the month of september. Considering my wife and I were home and used our standard amount of electricity, I was perplexed as to how it happened. I call the customer service, or diservice, number and they inform me that it seems that something must be incorrect and to provide an updated reading when I can. Upon providing an updated reading, which was in line with West Penn's actual for the end of October, I was confused as to how for the months of our highest electrical usage, I would have nothing but estimates and a "No Service Registered". To make matters worse, West Penn Power was at my home twice during the month of July to install a digital meter. And what was done when the old analog meter was replaced with a digital meter? They had to record the actual reading! How did this not get passed over to West Penn Power? Why would they want to estimate the electrical usage during the summer months? Could it be if I had a bill that I deemed to high that I would have cut back on my electrical usage, resulting is less $ going to First Energy Coporation? In speaking with the customer service rep all they told me that they would be able to do is further prolong the estimates and spread my bill out on a budget plan. Then came the next issue. When I attempted to contact the PUC to help me resolve the issue, west penn informed me that the only way to resolve it would be to work with then and cancel the complaint. THe PUC told me to be careful, but I was under the assumption that West Penn was a credible organization. So, after canceling the complaint, West Penn told me there was nothing they could do and that I effectively had to deal with it. This is the last straw. I have asked to speak with a manager 3 times, never once have I heard anything form management. NO return calls, nothing. The customer service rep told me to "write my congressman" which I have, and that there's nothing they can do for me further. I think this is done intentionally to get consumers to use more electricity knowing there is nothing that can be done to challenge it. If you have a choice, use another electricity supplier.