Identity Theft in Utility Service: A Case Study Energy Association of Pennsylvania Industry Challeng

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Identity Theft in Utility Service A Case Study
Energy Association of Pennsylvania Industry
Challenges and Strategies 2005June 2, 2005
Verdina Y. Showell Legal Counsel to Chairman
Wendell F. Holland Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission
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IDENTITY THEFT- WHAT IS IT?

• Federal Statutes
• Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA)
• Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of
  1998
• Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions of 2003
  (FACT Act)
• Enacted 12/4/03
• Amended FCRA
• Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
• Enacted July 2004

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IDENTITY THEFT- WHAT IS IT? Cont

• Pennsylvania Statutes
• 18 Pa. C.S. 4120
• A person commits the offense of identity theft
  of another person if he possesses or uses,
  through any means, identifying information of
  another person without the consent of that person
  to further unlawful purpose
• 42 Pa. C.S. 5525(b)
• Four year statute of limitations
• 42 Pa. C.S. 8315
• Award of damages in civil actions

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FTC STUDY

• Nationwide Problem
• National Statistics
• Pennsylvania Statistics

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PA PUC EXPERIENCE

• MacDougall v. Verizon (August 23, 2004 Order)
  F-01339719
• Formal Complaint filed to prove victim of
  identity theft
• Consumer filed identity theft report with local
  enforcement authority
• Commission ruling in favor of consumer

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PA PUCEXPERIENCEcont

• Investigation In Re Identity Theft (October 14,
  2004 Order)
• Objectives
• 1. Examine impact of identity theft on consumers
  and utilities
• 2. Whether existing Commission rules, regulations
  and policies adequately protect consumers and
  utilities from effects of identity theft

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PA PUC EXPERIENCE Cont

• Scope of Investigation

• Solicited Utility Comments
• Verification
• Social Security number
• Customer account information
• Incidences and losses
• PUC regulations

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PA PUC EXPERIENCE Cont

• 2. Responses of 123 Utilities
• Major Jurisdictional Utility
  Companies
• Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
• Natural Gas Suppliers
• Electric Generation Suppliers

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PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
ON THE MARK !!!
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COMMISSION FINDINGS

• TO BE CONTINUED