Oak Park woman stuck paying for neighbor's electricity

Chicago Tribune ^

[Chet 99]

Linda Webb was pretty sure her electric bills were wrong. For years her usage would inexplicably spike, even when she turned off the lights or sweltered in the summer heat.

When she called ComEd to complain, she was told her bill was accurate.

"I didn't really pay any attention because when I'd call, they'd just pooh-pooh me and say, 'You know, Ma'am, rates went up,' " Webb said.

This winter, Webb reached her boiling point. The disabled Oak Park resident said the bills for her small apartment climbed beyond what she could afford — $81 one month, $77 the next.

[dfwgator]

Pretty soon we are all going to wind up stuck paying for a lot of people’s electricity....and food....and housing....

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Just spreadin’ the wealth.

Sheesh.

[Pistolshot]

Yep, I have decided to go look for a house in the $300,000 range. Since only %31 of my income will go to pay for it, I’m sure the rest of you won’t mind helping me out. /sarc

[pabianice]

Within days, a ComEd technician visited Webb's apartment complex and confirmed her meter had been switched with a neighbor's.

Don't you love the cowardly passive-aggressive? The meter somehow switched itself with the neighbor's. No human involvement involved. Next.

[DaisyCutter]

My electric bill already asks me for money to pay for other people's electric bills.

I make a not-so-subtle point of writing a big fat zero in that section of the bill.

[bgill]

$81 one month, $77 the next.

Mine's three times that and the only light on is the computer screen.

[dfwgator]

You may not have that choice for much longer.

[2001convSVT]

The bigger question is, when the government controls everything who are you going to complain to? and what are your chances of getting justice?