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The demand for rights, the push for home rule, and mounting grievances concerning utility services created heavy pressure that moved the city toward change.
During this period, the giant gas, electricity, and telecommunications utilities were loosely regulated, which allowed them to set rates and policies without public accountability. Rates skyrocketed, services were doled out inequitably, system reliability plummeted, and unplanned outages increased. The residents had no recourse.
“Consumers were upset, but the people had nowhere to go. You either pay the utilities, or you don’t have utility service. They had no voice.”
- Karen Sistrunk, Deputy People’s Counsel, Office of the People’s Counsel
8 OPC’s Journey to Protect Utility Consumers
