Local Utilities Look To Help Evacuees In EP

EL PASO, TX. – Utility companies in El Pasoare trying to make hurricane evacuees here as comfortable as possible, however it’s a daunting task even in the best of circumstances.

Texas Gas Service has been waiving the $50 security deposit it usually charges before setting up a new account, but some other local utilities are not. TGStells ABC-7 thatthey’ve been waiving the fee for about three days.As of Thursday,they’ve gotten calls from about 50 louisiana residents relocating to El Paso.

Thursday, about a dozen Texas consumer groups are asking the state to require the waiver of utility deposits for Katrina evacuees. They’re petitioning the Public Utilities Commission and the Railroad Commission to adopt the rule.

Texas Gas services’ decision was made at it’s corporate headquarters in Tulsa. Pete Parraz a spokesperson for Texas Gas Service “Helping Hand” program says,”A lot of these people left the area with the clothes on their back and we’re trying to restart their lives and hopefully we can play a small portion of helping them get back into society.”

Officials from El Paso Water Utilities say at present they are not waiving the $45 security deposit and account start-up fee. That would require board approval. However they do tell ABC-7 thatthey will work with people to set up a payment plan to get that start-up fee paid.

ABC-7 alsochecked with El Paso Electric, who says that they routinely don’t charge a security deposit to set up new service. Additionally, Time-Warner cabledoesn’t usually charge a deposit to start-up service.

ABC-7 also left messages withSouthwestern Bellin El Paso, San Antonio and Austin and did not recieve a return call.