Related series: PUC asked to alter utility shutoff rule

By Bob Wyss
Journal Staff Writer

The lead I wrote for this story attempted to be as simple and stark as the message delivered at the public hearing:

"With winter approaching, Rhode Island families without heat are increasingly desperate."

Originally, I had the time element of yesterday somewhere in the lead. But my story editor, Peter Phipps, said it was not necessary, and it sure helped make the message more direct.

I did not go with an anecdotal lead because the approach in this case seemed too trite, too overused. Besides, capturing one person did not really describe what had happened at the hearing.

I had been suprised by the power, by the emotion, by the sheer terror that came out during the testimony. I have been to these kinds of proceedings before, where a few token customers are trotted out and read from scripts about the plight of the poor.

There were no scripts. There was one person after another, many with real problems and there was nothing orchestrated about the performance. It was messy, at times confusing, and seemed to take forever.

Surprise is always a key element when one is sifting through the facts and deciding what is important.

What made the hearing particularly powerful was when the head of the Providence community action program and a number-cruncher from a national research organization out of Boston both testified that there were real problems with the way the utilities were cutting off service to customers.

Those comments were used fairly high in the story to support the lead and opening.

After that, I found three of the more powerful speakers and pretty much let them speak for themselves.

The nature of the assignment meant that it was produced rather quickly. I thought I was writing for the business page, which has a 6 p.m. deadline. By the time I learned it was going page one, and that I had more time, I was virtually finished with the story.

But I have also found that writing fast has a way of solving a number of problems.

Plus, I wasn't late for dinner.