Politics & Government

Bethesda Salon Owner Gets $19,000 Pepco Bill

Ira Ludwick told WUSA9 Pepco has corrected the mistake -- but only after he called the television station to investigate.

A Bethesda salon owner was sure his $11,000 Pepco bill was a mistake. But according to a WUSA9 report, when he called to complain, Pepco told him his bill wasn't $11,000 -- it was, in fact, $19,000.

Ira Ludwick, who recently opened the Ira Ludwick salon in the Georgetown Square Shopping Center, told WUSA9 he was shocked when he received the bill and asked Pepco to investigate.

"The results of the investigation were an insult," Ludwick told WUSA9. "I got a one sentence letter stating that upon a review of your account, it has been determined that the meter reading is correct and your bill is now due."

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After Ludwick called a consumer protection agency and WUSA9, he says the billing issue has been resolved -- Pepco was billing him for a meter that wasn't his. A Pepco spokeswoman told WUSA9 Ludwick's landlord had incorrectly labeled the meter.

Read the full story at WUSA9.

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pepco and other Maryland power companies have faced billing compaints in the past when customers felt they were unfairly charged during storm outages. The Maryland Public Services Commision on the eve of Hurricane Sandy announced a decision halting the companies' power to charge for services not received.


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