Q: electric bill past due and will not do a payment plan
I own a home, and have had many people live with me on and off since 1995. My electric company said my meter was tampered with in 2005 and they want me to pay the amount due according to them. I have no clue if its accurate and I of course am the only one on the electric bill. I said I do not know how or who did it if it was done but I did not do it but I need a payment arrangement for $13,000 and they said they need half up front. I am on SSD and make $20,000 a year and cannot afford to pay that payment arrangement. I do not know what to do please help. Can I put it into a chapter 13 the past due amount without atlantic electric criminally suing me for something I did not personally do? Can I take the service out of my name and put electric service in a different person's name to keep the electric on at my home? or can I just change suppliers and start fresh? thank you so much
A: The homeowner is responsible for the bill, however, there are ways of challenging the utility company's bill. Utility companies have, for example, been using smart meters to replace the old analog meters. They then claim you've underpaid because the new meter is more accurate (or some other ridiculous excuse) and then retroactively charge thousands of dollars to ratepayers. This should be unlawful but the Board of Public Utilities is not siding with ratepayers. But even if your electric meter is the traditional analog type, you're going to need an attorney that practices administrative law and is knowledgeable about utility company meters.
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