Outsourcing Hurts Utility Service

As predicted, customer service at Washington Gas has already begun to suffer as the utility outsources local call center, credit, and accounting jobs. Washington Gas users couldn't get through on the company's customer service non-emergency lines last month, reports OPEIU Local 2, which represents the local workers whose jobs are being outsourced to Accenture. "Washington Gas had to call customers to apologize and ask them to call back.” DC's Public Service Commission is holding hearings this month on the utility's request for a $20 million-dollar rate increase, and the union urges customers to send in service complaints to the PSC - email ocs@psc.dc.gov --- or attend on of the hearings, which are set for December 6, 8 & 10. Click here for details; to testify, call 202-626-5150 at least three days prior to the hearing.