Centerpoint suspends program to report deliquent customers

by Toni Randolph, Minnesota Public Radio

Centerpoint Energy has indefinitely postponed a plan to send the names of customers who are behind in payments to credit-reporting agencies.

St. Paul, Minn. — In an effort to collect a record $106-million dollars in delinquent payments, Centerpoint Energy announced last fall that it was going to send the names of customers who are behind on their payments to the credit reporting agencies.

Advocates for low-income families had threatened to pursue legislation to stop the plan.

Pam Marshall directs the non-profit group Energy Cents.

" I think the company realized that there were alternatives to the threat of credit agency reporting and instead are working on things like increasing funding for the energy assistance program and letting their customers know that there are other available resources," Marshall said.

In a statement, Centerpoint Energy said it will educate consumers about energy assistance programs and increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.