Ameritech told Mich. PSC Tues. that it wasn’t able to keep its pr...

said it also failed to meet its internal target of reducing pending installation and repair orders below 19,125. Carrier said it had 25,354 pending orders at end of Dec., and 23,305 pending as of Mon. Ameritech attributed its failure to meet promised targets to record cold weather and snowfall in Mich. in Dec., plus out-of- state technicians’ taking vacation days to return home for holidays. In other Mich. matters, PSC approved Ameritech’s plan to prevent identity theft. Program includes: (1) Verifying identity of person ordering service. (2) Ensuring that accounts going to collection agencies and credit bureaus are attributed to responsible party, and keeping records on such accounts for period adverse report stays on credit record. (3) Responding promptly to customer complaints about fraudulent accounts or identity theft and making sure that credit bureaus have removed negative information created because of account fraud perpetrated against customer. Mich. Attorney Gen. Jennifer Granholm told PSC she wouldn’t ask state Supreme Court to review Dec. state appeals court ruling allowing PSC to hire outside counsel when agency is being sued by AG’s office on behalf of utility customers. AG normally defends state agencies in lawsuits, but also can sue them. Court ruled AG’s office was subject to state legal canon that prohibits private law firms from representing both sides of same case. PSC went to court in 1999 after one AG division sued PSC on behalf of Detroit’s electric ratepayers while another AG division was to handle PSC’s defense.