It's about time somebody in Harrisburg does something about the economy. I read the Aug. 23 paper's article about energy and am amazed at just how inept our government and the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission are. People are having real problems, and they plan to let the electric rate controls lapse. Get off your duff and pass emergency legislation to extend the controls on electric rates, roll back the 40 percent increase at Citizens Electric and regulate the electric producers who sell to companies like Citizens Electric. The utilities are making a profit now, and with your help, are soon to make super profits on the backs of the people. Get your back up and work for us, the people who elected you. And while you are at it, the state law that prohibits electric and gas companies from terminating service in the winter months must be changed to include oil companies.

Maybe it's time for the utilities to be nationalized and become non-profit organizations. We can live without a lot of services and conveniences, but utilities are necessary and an apparent evil. Anything and anybody who can hurt so many people has to be evil.

If you, Mr. and Mrs. citizen, agree, get your back up and call the governor, your senator and representative and demand they stand up to the utilities and the PUC.

Carlyle Westlund,

Middleburg