That means to determine who's going to be paid, how much they're going to be paid, when they're going to be paid. On the other hand, this case is unique. The court will be aware of the fact that this is not like the bankruptcy of, say, a department store, according to Jeff Morris of the University of Dayton. People can get by without a particular department store being opened up in their town. It's awful tough to get by without electric power.
Electricity is an essential service.
So the judge will have to consider the interest of consumers. Traditionally, bankruptcy proceedings are supposed to help creditors, people who are owed money. Helping consumers, people who buy products, may not be so easy. Well, the Bankruptcy Code doesn't seem to give the Public Utilities Commission or the ratepayers any control or position at the table. One way for the judge to satisfy creditors is to mandate price increases.