Trying to pass the burden of discovery on to customers is a sign that there is a fundamental accounting weakness in accounts receivable at Conectiv, as well as a complete breakdown in customer relations. If Conectiv had a clue about customer service and good accounting, it would be announcing that all customers would be getting new bills, recalculated and verified to be accurate. Instead, it is trumpeting the accuracy of the vast majority of its billings, but forcing individual customers to figure out whose are correct and whose are not. If a credit card bank pulled such an arrogant stunt, it would be hounded out of business. Witness First USA Bank, which magnified its billing problems with weak customer service.
Utilities have a special responsibility.
They have special rights and privileges as exclusive providers of necessary commodities. While technically Conectiv is no longer an absolute monopoly, it is the electricity and gas provider for most people on the Delmarva Peninsula. Appoquinimink's decision to go forward should signal district residents that the school board and Superintendent Tony Marchio expect students to do well and that they intend to do as much as possible to help them meet high classroom standards. That is in marked contrast to many other districts in Delaware, whose top eduction officers have fought school reform with misleading and insulting tactics. While some superintendents have been whining that their students could never meet higher academic standards and have called on legislators to lower the bar, Mr. Marchio and his board have made it clear that Appoquinimink students should meet the standards.