Press Release: 09/27/2010
Contact:  Jack Colby (401)884-0788

Vowing to bring real relief to low-income utility consumers this year, more than sixty Wiley Center supporters met on Saturday, September 25^th to educate and motivate action for affordable energy. With ten candidates for state office in attendance, several speakers, including John Howat, from the National Consumer Law Center, brought home the message that ending Rhode Island’s utility crisis must be a priority for elected officials in RI.

Getting legislation passed that would lower the cost of gas and electricity for low-income customers was the theme of several speakers at the two hour meeting. That message was underscored by several attendees who described to the audience the difficulty they have paying their utility bills. /h3>

Wiley organizer, Pam Jennings, took up the challenge of persuading legislators to pass a bill that would set the cost of gas and of electricity at no more than 8% of household income for families that qualify for federal heating assistance. Pam stressed the need to “keep the pressure on” legislators. And, to that end, she provided conference attendees with forms that they can use to identify their legislative candidates and track their support of a low-income utility payment plan.

Following remarks by Jack Colby and Howat that emphasized procedures that can be used to pressure public officials to pay attention to the needs of low-income people, Sandra Morra implored the attendees to call candidates for state office and tell those individuals that we will not support their election bids unless they support a legislative agenda that brings relief to low-income families.

For the next few weeks, until the election in November. Pam, Sandra and others at the Wiley Center will organize Saturday’s meeting attendees and other Wiley associates to call political hopefuls and confront them in person at election events reminding them that we want affordable energy legislation that will bring relief to low-income famiies.

Drawing upon the expanded power of involving Wiley Center members and struggling consumers, acting operations manager, Maggi Rogers, will implement a grass-roots effort to compel RI elected officials to act in the interest of consumers who cannot pay their ever-increasing utility bills. This effort represents, to paraphrase George Wiley, a winning plan being made to happen!

Join in on this effort. Call the Wiley center to identify your state representative and senate candidates. Tell them they will not get your vote or that of your family members and friends if they do not commit to support an affordable energy plan when it comes before the RI general Assembly this next legislative year. Then report their responses to the Wiley Center at 728-5555. This goal requires everyone to do their part!