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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2004)
[be is j; arinescj of off® ijah.“Ais ns to mi w’reg nly can'; : there a iference. in. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, speaks in the George Bush Presidential jnference Center rotunda Thursday. Hutchison congratulated Texas A&M exceeding $500 million in annual research spending. commission idopts rules to protect lectricity customers ofGazi unprece* I on i to i Palestr Med in By Matt Joyce THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN — The state Public tility Commission on Thursday dopted several rules it said ould protect customers in a eregulated electricity market. loflht'll ul a consumer £ rou P sa 'd the tiles favor electric companies. The rules include provisions protect customers with spe- lial needs, require customer ptification when electricity is ping to be terminated, require oviders to offer deferred pay- lent plans and require the turn of deposits after one year. “1 think our rules enhance stomer protection through a lumber of mechanisms,” said [aul Hudson, chairman of the o-member commission. The vote capped a yearlong ocess to address problems countered by customers and oviders since Texas deregula tion laws took effect in 2002. The commission made last- inute revisions to the 420 ages of proposed rules in sponse to concerns of con- mer groups and state democratic lawmakers. The commission said it would t allow companies to verify a stomer’s credit if the customer utinely pays his bills on time, also relaxed credit standards r senior citizens who wish to oid paying a security deposit r electric service. Carol Biedrzycki, executive director of the Texas Ratepayers’ Organization to Save Energy, said the rules could be bad for Texans who struggle to make payments. ‘‘I understand that this is a competitive market, but we also need to understand that this is an essential service, and the providers need to be a little more outgoing,” she said. Biedrzycki said the rules allow electric providers to wait four days before restoring power to a disconnected customer. “This rule should protect people in extreme situations,” she said. Hudson said the commission set maximum deadlines and did not mean to interfere with the normal business practice of restoring power within 24 hours. Biedrzycki also said the rules do not ensure that electric providers will restore power to a customer who catches up on pay ments after being disconnected. “People need to know that when they pay a delinquent bill they’re not guaranteed restora tion of the same service from the same company,” she said. Kimberly Morgan, a spokes woman for the Dallas-based TXU power company, said the rules send a strong signal that “customers come first.” “We’ll continue to work with the PUC to make sure the rules are enforced properly,” she said. [ON NEWS IN BRIEF Governor sending team to El Paso |EL PASO, Texas (AP) — State cost-cutting measures have left ederly people with little institutional protection from neglect and ^(ploitation, according to a West Texas attorney who represents ging residents. |Terry Hammond says his clients have been left to live in squalor 'the state’s Adult Protective Services program, which was cre- ied to protect them. IGov. Rick Perry has ordered a review and reorganization of the Togram after receiving information from El Paso County Probate Jidge Max Higgs about cases of neglect where the state was jow to get involved. The report describes elderly El Pasoans Bing bitten by rodents and living in garbage-filled homes. I ifrai^J \ exclusively @ 520 University Drive East, College Station • 693-0995 Do you vwkunf if f^Wes? The Battalion is hiring motivated editors, writers, photographers and graphics artists Start work this summer or fall! • Learn the ropes in a professional newsroom environment • Develop the skills you need to advance while managing a team with The Battalion’s NEW paid internships Deadlines: April 26 for editor applications Continuous hiring for staff positions Pick up an application in 014 Reed McDonald or online at www.thebatt.com. The Battalion AssemSCy of Qod Bethel Temple Assembly of God 2608 Villa Maria, Bryan 776-4835 Sunday Worship 10:15 Sunday School 9:00 www.betheltemplebcs.com ‘Baptist Parkway Baptist Church 1501 Southwest Pkwy (979)693-4701 Sunday Worship 10:45 am & 6 pm Sunday School 9:30 am Meal 5:15 pm. College Bible Study 6:30 pm www.pbccs.org Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church College & Career Class You are invited to a Bible Study especially for students. Sunday mornings at 9:45 Wednesday night supper at 5:30, followed by Bible Study at 6:30 1228 W. Villa Maria 779-2297 For more information contact Bill Van Winkle: 774-3059 college@fellowshipfwb.org http://www.fellowshipfwb.org CatfioCic St. Mary’s Catholic Center 603 Church Avenue in Northgate (979)846-5717 www.aaaiecatholic.org Pastoral Team Rev. Michael J. Sis, Pastor Rev. Keith Koehl, Associate Pastor - Campus Ministers - Deacon Bill Scott, Deacon David Reed, Martha Tonn, Julia Motekaitis Dawn Rouen, Roel Garza Daily Masses Mon.-Fri.: 5:30 p.m. in the Church Tues.&Thurs.: 12:05 p.m. in the All Faiths Chapel Weekend Masses Sat: 2:00 p.m. (Korean), 5:30 p.m. (English), 7:00 p.m. (Spanish) Sun.: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Confessions Wed. 8:30-9:30 p.m., Sat. 4:00-5:15 p.m. or by appointment. CHristian First Christian Church 900 South Ennis, Bryan 823-5451 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Robert D. Chandler, Minister ‘Episcopal St. Thomas Episcopal 906 George Bush Dr. • College Station, TX 696-1726 Services - 8:00 (Rite 1), 9:00(Family Service Rite II) and 11:15 (Rite ll-for late sleeping Ags) 7:30 p.m. Evensong \\ fcp| Next door to Canterbury House, the Episopal Student Center Lutheran Sunday “ COLLEGE STATION. TEXAS Comer of Harvey Mitchell Pkwy and Rio Grande 693-4403 • www.peacelutheranweb.com ‘United Methodist A&M United Methodist 417 University Dr. (in Northgate) • 846-8731 Sunday Worship: 8:30, 9:45, 10:50 College Sunday School: 9:30,10:45 Thursday Nights: 5:30 - University Choir 6:30 - FREE Supper, 7:00 - College Bible Study www.am-umc.org/college First United Methodist Church Bryan Worship Services: 8:40 am and 10:55 am Sunday School at 9:45 am Rev. Matt Idom, Pastor On 28' 1 ' Street, 1 block east of Texas Avenue in Bryan 779-1324 www.fumcbryan.org Odpn-DenominationaC Feeling a time overwhelmed? God can help) We are a small church that teaches God’s Word verse by verse, and places a high value on worship. CASUAL ATMOSPHERE Come join usl Currently meeting at: Putt-Putt 6olf & Gomes 1705 Valley View Dr C.S. Just across Texas Ave. from the C.S. Police Station Services at 10:30 am Sunday Pastor Jeff Hughes ‘95 (979)324-3972 www.aggleland.ee O^pn-DenominationaC communitycTl kjrcm A/ow Mooting Across from Campus in Oakwood Interm. School George Bush & Holih St. behind the CS Conference Ctr. Follow the signs! every SUNDAY worship @10:30 a.m. small groups meet throughout the week www.COmC/HIJRC'l I .com 260-1163 Presbyterian Hansarang Presbyterian Church 220 Rock Prarie Rd., CS 696-0403 Sunday Worship - 2:00p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church 220 Rock Prairie Road (979) 694-7700 Students Welcome Sunday Service: 8:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. www.covenantpresbyterian.org ‘Unitarian ‘UniversaCist Unitarian Universalist Fellowship A Welcoming Congregation Rev. Elizabeth Brown 979.696.5285 • 305 Wellborn Rd. BrazosUU@aol.com • www.ipt.com/uuf/ Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. f To advertise on this page call The Battalion today! 845-2696 V J
