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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | 11:20 p.m.

Updated: 7:51 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 | Posted: 11:29 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005

Penelec Fined After Investigation Into Utility Shut Off

Cambria County —

Officials said the Cambria County fire that killed four people was caused by candles burning because electricity to the home had been shut off. The electricity was shut off because the people living there were behind on their bill. The P.U.C. says Penelec could have done more to help the homeowners find a way to pay that bill.

"My leg, my body, is a constant reminder. We were supposed to get married, no that's gone," says John Sexton, Sr.

He was in that home the night it caught fire, and his fiance Delores Hammond didn't make it.

The state Public Utility Commission says Penelec could have done more to prevent the shut off and it fined the utility 250-thousand-dollars.

"I think it's good enough, if it works. I mean, it's nice to say it, but to actually see it's done is a different thing, says John's son John, Jr.

While Penelec did not admit any wrong doing, it will change the way it deals with shut offs, including special training for its customer service people. But that's little consolation to the people who lost loved ones in the fire.

"It aggravates me to no end that it takes something like this to happen to have some compassion and look into getting things changed," says John, Jr.

The P.U.C. says because one of the people who lived in the home had a medical condition, Penelec should have realized that could qualify them for help paying the bill.

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