The public is speaking -- and speaking loudly.

News of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp.'s request to add a surcharge to customer bills if usage drops too low -- broken by my colleague, Doug Oathout, a couple of weeks ago -- has prompted a flood of complaints before the state's Public Utility Commission.

The PUC, the state agency that is charged with monitoring utilities such as National Fuel, has received five formal complaints about NFG's plan, Oathout wrote in today's paper.

It has also received about 185 informal complaints.

Given the amount of e-mail I've received on the topic, I'm speculating there are many more people out there who would like to speak out about the plan (who knows, there might even be some customers who are in favor of it).

Here's where you can go to register a complaint.

The PUC works for you. Let its commissioners know what you think before they make up their minds.