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Nutter Admits One Missed Payment Made Him Target of PGW's Wrath

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mayor Michael Nutter says it was his own mistake in missing a single payment that led PGW to place a lien on his home.

"Pure human error, by me," the mayor acknowledged today, explaining how his family came to owe PGW $507, prompting the city-owned utility to issue a shut-off notice and place a lien on his home.

Nutter says he missed a single payment.

"I had a personal circumstance where I literally just missed an obligation to PGW, and had thought that I had taken care of a particular bill.  Apparently I had not.   I've been a consistent, regular customer and payer to PGW, and made a mistake," the mayor said.

Nutter said he does not know why a single missed payment would warrant a shut-off notice, and he said he's now paid up in full.

He added that any warnings issued by PGW also went unnoticed.

As to why no one at his home noticed, he said, "We're a very busy family.  It was my responsibility to take of care of it.  I literally just missed it, and that's literally the full story."

The mayor has been exploring selling off PGW, a move opposed by unions representing workers there.   Nutter said he is "proof positive" that the utility is very good at collecting overdue bills.

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