William Rouse 
July 13, 1996 
William Raymond Rouse, 54, Of Mesa Oaks Circle, Austin, Texas, Died Saturday 
In Austin.

A Giant Inclination 
Big Brothers-big Sisters Stands To Benefit From Annual Hill Climb

Sunday, July 14, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Summer madness holds PUC and Pa. Turnpike in its grasp &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pennsylvanians could be excused for wondering if some of that infamous
tainted &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; British beef found its way onto the plates of some of their representatives
in &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 HarrisburgThere was the unanimous vote last week by the Public Utility
Commission (PUC) endorsing action that would gut its reason for existence and
create chaos for its public. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Their action is intended to eliminate the monopoly granted electric utility
companies in Pennsylvania and replace it with "competition." Under the
proposal, each consumer would get the choice of which electric generating
company anywhere in the western hemisphere that person wanted to provide his
or her home or business with electricity. Once chosen, the generator could
transmit its power over existing lines of the utilities in between to the
consumer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The assumption is that power is being generated and marketed cheaper
everywhere else than in Pennsylvania. And in its sudden zealous concern for
the consumer's pocketbook, the PUC claims it merely wants to shove aside the
expensive local utilities and get that cheaper electricity to whomever wants
it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There are many problems with that simplistic theory -- all of which would
be evident had the PUC in its rush, paused first for some public hearings. But
then, under the Ridge administration, public hearings -- such as was the case
with last year's budget --seem to be no longer fashionable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For one thing, electric utilities -- like the gas companies -- have been
buying out-of-the-area and out-of-state generated power to meet their consumer
demands for decades. That "cheaper" electricity already is in the homes and
businesses of Pennsylvania consumers. Pennsylvania utilities buy in far
greater bulk than any single consumer could possible consider, and therefore
enjoy discounted rates that are far more favorable than any individual
consumer could command. Moreover, the local utilities already have the billing
and collecting mechanism, staff, and records that an outside supplier would
need to create, at considerable expense, if it is to collect payment for its
product. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If, despite all of the existing advantages for the consumer, it would be
possible for the outside generator to deliver electricity cheaper to the
Pennsylvania consumer, that would raise questions whether the PUC has been
doing its job. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The word "monopoly" has a bad connotation. But there are things it can do
that can be wholly to the benefit of the public it serves. For example, it can
acquire and deliver its services with unhampered and unexcelled efficiency
and, therefore, economy. The task of the PUC is to enable the monopoly to do
all of that -- in fact, to encourage it -- and still keep it from abusing its
power. The PUC does this with regulations which, among other things, restrain
the profitability of a monopoly; it is intended to give consumers the benefits
without any of the dangers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If utilities in other states are able to generate electricity cheaper than
those in Pennsylvania, then -- lacking explanations that are beyond its
control, such as use of hydroelectric plants -- the PUC has not done its job. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rather than discarding more than 100 years of hard experience and returning
such a basic necessity as electric power to the tumult of competing and
unregulated providers, members of the PUC would better serve the public
interest by concentrating on improving their own performance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But barely was the PUC's defection announced than the Minority Whip of the
House, Ivan Itkin (D-Allegheny), came up with a similar dysfunction. He joined
several others who apparently have been looking with covetous eyes at the
success of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What these worthies want is to dismember the Authority -- regardless of its
special attractiveness as a treasure chest for patronage -- and seize its
income. This, they figure, would allow the members to get more of the highway
projects constructed that their constituents want, and to get more money for
maintenance of existing highways. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The immediate cost to the public would be loss of the best designed and
maintained highway in the state if not in the nation. It is all of these
things because its fees pay for them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All public roads in the state could be as fine -- if the legislators were
willing to ask, and the taxpayers were willing to pay, for it. But that, the
legislators figure, is too difficult,. too uncertain, and too dangerous a
speculation to even consider, It would be much easier to simply rob the
turnpike's success today, and let tomorrow deal with the debris. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In both cases -- the PUC's proposed abandonment and the legislator's
proposed robbery -- short-term illusions seem to be all that counts, and the
consequences to be of no consequence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since the summer hasn't been that hot -- it must be the food. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom Bigler is professor of communications at Wilkes University and a Times
Leader columnist. His column appears Sunday and Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Summer Madness Holds Puc And Pa. Turnpike In Its Grasp 
Pennsylvanians Could Be Excused For Wondering If Some Of That Infamous Tainted 
British Beef Found Its Way Onto The Plates Of Some Of Their Representatives In 
Harrisburg.

Summer Madness Holds Puc And Pa. Turnpike In Its Grasp Pennsylvanians Could Be Excused For Wondering If Some Of That Infamous Tainted British Beef Found Its Way Onto The Plates Of Some Of Their Representatives In Harrisburg.