Electric Bill Fun And Games

[Plecostomus]

Ok, my utility company over the winter of 2007-2008 estimated my electric bill and then in June socked me with a $600 bill. I went on a "payment plan" and then over last winter they did the same thing leaving me with a $900 bill in addition to my normal bill plus my payment arrangement. I'm in upstate New York and my electric provider is Rochester Gas And Electric.

Thing is over the winter I did my own meter reads, and the utility company was out here twice due to ice issues on the power lines and they read the meter. Yet they claim that they "estimated the bill all winter due to inaccessible meter."

I called them up and tried to roll this balance into the payment arrangement and they said they would be glad to call this number. I called and that department said "Ahha, guess what you can has final termination if you do not pay before June 12th no payment arrangment for you."

I owe them about $1300 at this point which they want by the 12th. The fuck.

Even in the best of times I couldn't pay a $1,300 bill in two weeks, and right now this is not the best of times. I'm making arangments through the church to keep the lights on but still...



Now I'm not begging for money I'm just trying to figure out how to go after these bastards because they are playing some kind of game here.

 

[JimCasy]

Guh. That sucks. I'd probably talk to my cousin who's a lawyer and see exactly how legal all of this is.

If you're already getting help from your church, could you maybe talk to their lawyer, or someone in the congregation who is one? Do churches even have lawyers? It seems like they should.

 

[Plecostomus]

Guh. That sucks. I'd probably talk to my cousin who's a lawyer and see exactly how legal all of this is.

If you're already getting help from your church, could you maybe talk to their lawyer, or someone in the congregation who is one? Do churches even have lawyers? It seems like they should.

Indeed they do, and many lawyers go to my church as well.

 

[Gertch]

There's a small power company out my way (Unitil) that is in some hot water for the same type of billing practices. Plus, with the ice storm in December, many people were without power for over a month! An old classmate of mine is actually leading the charge to get rid of them from the area and has had all kinds of meetings with politicians and rallies with the people.

Bottom line is if you can find others in the same predicament you might be able to do something similar. But it's not a quick fix.