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Utility firm complaints issued
By Hillary Gavan
Daily News staff writer
Daniel McIntyre Jr. of 554 S. Bluff Road, South Beloit, was trying to figure out how to keep his family safe on Friday. At about 12:45 p.m. a Rock Energy Cooperative truck arrived to disconnect his electricity as his wife and 1-year-old shivered inside.
McIntyre is one of several who've had their power turned off this winter because they've gotten behind on bills. Although utilities typically don't turn off power from Dec. 1 to March 31, Rock Energy Cooperative - which covers Rockton, Rockton Township and South Beloit - has been pulling the plug on some.
Many South Beloit and Rockton residents also say they are concerned about Rock Energy Cooperative's deposit and reconnection fees. On Dec. 10, residents packed a Rockton Township Board meeting to voice concerns.
By Friday, however, McIntyre was making plans to bed down at a homeless shelter as soon as his older children arrived home from school. McIntyre said he tried everything he could to work on paying his bill. According to McIntyre, Rock Energy told him to pay $700 by Oct. 9, but he could only pay $190. McIntyre said his work as an on-site mechanic has substantially slowed this winter and he had no other choice.
McIntyre's neighbor Jennie Morris was in tears as she watched the Rock Energy Cooperative truck pull up to the pole, disconnect the electricity and drive away. She offered to take the McIntyres in for the afternoon to let them warm up.
Morris said she knows several elderly people who have had their heat shut off. Once the heat is shut off, however, the situation only gets worse.
To be reconnected, a person is charged twice his or her highest utility bill plus various connection fees. Last year, when Morris had her power shut off, for example, she had to pay a $700 deposit because her highest bill was $325. With fees, her bill totaled $1,400 to get reconnected.
“It's a cooperative, so they can do whatever they want,” Morris said. “It makes me want to move out of the area. I feel really helpless. They can charge us as much as they want.”
Amy Hart of South Beloit said she almost had her power shut off when she was late on a bill.
Hart, a waitress who is five months pregnant and the mother of a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old, said she received a notice that her bill of $190 from the previous month was overdue and her power was scheduled to be shut off on Dec. 3.
Luckily for Hart, her church stepped in and paid the bill. If others wouldn't have stepped in, Hart's children who use breathing machines for their asthma could have been in a dangerous position.
“God forbid someone get behind on their bills. It's pretty bad, they don't care about any financial hardships,” Hart said. “They are bigger and badder than everyone else and they can do what they want. They are in control.”
With the frigid winter, Morris is concerned that someone could die if his or her heat is shut off.
According to the Illinois Utility Law, utilities providing heating aren't supposed to shut off service from Dec. 1, through March 31. Because Rock Energy Cooperative is classified as a nonprofit, it may not have to adhere to the law.
Morris said she and other concerned residents are planning to go door-to-door to hand out forms for residents to fill out. The forms will then be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which oversees utility companies in Illinois. Those who are being threatened with a disconnection or have been the victim of a disconnection can reach the agency at 800-524-0795 or visit its Web site at www.icc.illinoisgov/consumer/complaint.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said that Rock Energy Cooperative is in compliance with the laws set up for a cooperative, which are different than the laws of a private company. If people get their power turned off from Dec. 1 to March 31, however, Syverson urges them to contact his offices at 815-987-7555.
CEO of Rock Energy Shane Larson said Rock Energy does all it can to work through billing issues with customers.
“We honestly and truly work with people that will work with us,” Larson said.
Larson said he didn't know of any residents who had their power shut off after Dec. 1, but said that non-members could get their power turned off. Non-members are those who haven't gone through the proper process to become a member during a move or have tampered with meters in the past.
Larson also said there could be situations where members signed a legal agreement where they promise to pay a certain amount each month toward their bills. Those people who signed such agreements with Rock Energy may get their power shut off if they are not in compliance with the agreement.
Because Rock Energy Cooperative is a cooperative, members - or those who pay their bills - have a financial interest in the company. In time, members can receive checks for being part of the membership. Larson said Rock Energy Cooperative has paid out a total of more than $1.2 million to members, and has lower rates overall than many utility providers.
When bills go unpaid, the remaining members are responsible. When certain members don't pay their bills, Larson said it costs the others more.
“We are trying to protect our membership as a whole. People have a difficult time paying their bills but we need people to be honest and adhere to the agreement they have signed with us,” Larson said.
Larson said that deposit requirements are two times a client's highest bill plus connection fees, but said that the deposit will be returned with interest a year later. A third party company decides if the member's credit rating is good enough to receive the interest on the deposit.
Larson said he's been in contact with Rockton Township and is interesting in addressing their concerns.
“We will certainly listen to them and take their concerns under advisement,” Larson said.
If people want to help the McIntyre family, they can call and leave a message for Daniel McIntyre at 815-389-1713.
Daily News staff writer
Daniel McIntyre Jr. of 554 S. Bluff Road, South Beloit, was trying to figure out how to keep his family safe on Friday. At about 12:45 p.m. a Rock Energy Cooperative truck arrived to disconnect his electricity as his wife and 1-year-old shivered inside.
McIntyre is one of several who've had their power turned off this winter because they've gotten behind on bills. Although utilities typically don't turn off power from Dec. 1 to March 31, Rock Energy Cooperative - which covers Rockton, Rockton Township and South Beloit - has been pulling the plug on some.
Many South Beloit and Rockton residents also say they are concerned about Rock Energy Cooperative's deposit and reconnection fees. On Dec. 10, residents packed a Rockton Township Board meeting to voice concerns.
By Friday, however, McIntyre was making plans to bed down at a homeless shelter as soon as his older children arrived home from school. McIntyre said he tried everything he could to work on paying his bill. According to McIntyre, Rock Energy told him to pay $700 by Oct. 9, but he could only pay $190. McIntyre said his work as an on-site mechanic has substantially slowed this winter and he had no other choice.
McIntyre's neighbor Jennie Morris was in tears as she watched the Rock Energy Cooperative truck pull up to the pole, disconnect the electricity and drive away. She offered to take the McIntyres in for the afternoon to let them warm up.
Morris said she knows several elderly people who have had their heat shut off. Once the heat is shut off, however, the situation only gets worse.
To be reconnected, a person is charged twice his or her highest utility bill plus various connection fees. Last year, when Morris had her power shut off, for example, she had to pay a $700 deposit because her highest bill was $325. With fees, her bill totaled $1,400 to get reconnected.
“It's a cooperative, so they can do whatever they want,” Morris said. “It makes me want to move out of the area. I feel really helpless. They can charge us as much as they want.”
Amy Hart of South Beloit said she almost had her power shut off when she was late on a bill.
Hart, a waitress who is five months pregnant and the mother of a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old, said she received a notice that her bill of $190 from the previous month was overdue and her power was scheduled to be shut off on Dec. 3.
Luckily for Hart, her church stepped in and paid the bill. If others wouldn't have stepped in, Hart's children who use breathing machines for their asthma could have been in a dangerous position.
“God forbid someone get behind on their bills. It's pretty bad, they don't care about any financial hardships,” Hart said. “They are bigger and badder than everyone else and they can do what they want. They are in control.”
With the frigid winter, Morris is concerned that someone could die if his or her heat is shut off.
According to the Illinois Utility Law, utilities providing heating aren't supposed to shut off service from Dec. 1, through March 31. Because Rock Energy Cooperative is classified as a nonprofit, it may not have to adhere to the law.
Morris said she and other concerned residents are planning to go door-to-door to hand out forms for residents to fill out. The forms will then be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which oversees utility companies in Illinois. Those who are being threatened with a disconnection or have been the victim of a disconnection can reach the agency at 800-524-0795 or visit its Web site at www.icc.illinoisgov/consumer/complaint.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said that Rock Energy Cooperative is in compliance with the laws set up for a cooperative, which are different than the laws of a private company. If people get their power turned off from Dec. 1 to March 31, however, Syverson urges them to contact his offices at 815-987-7555.
CEO of Rock Energy Shane Larson said Rock Energy does all it can to work through billing issues with customers.
“We honestly and truly work with people that will work with us,” Larson said.
Larson said he didn't know of any residents who had their power shut off after Dec. 1, but said that non-members could get their power turned off. Non-members are those who haven't gone through the proper process to become a member during a move or have tampered with meters in the past.
Larson also said there could be situations where members signed a legal agreement where they promise to pay a certain amount each month toward their bills. Those people who signed such agreements with Rock Energy may get their power shut off if they are not in compliance with the agreement.
Because Rock Energy Cooperative is a cooperative, members - or those who pay their bills - have a financial interest in the company. In time, members can receive checks for being part of the membership. Larson said Rock Energy Cooperative has paid out a total of more than $1.2 million to members, and has lower rates overall than many utility providers.
When bills go unpaid, the remaining members are responsible. When certain members don't pay their bills, Larson said it costs the others more.
“We are trying to protect our membership as a whole. People have a difficult time paying their bills but we need people to be honest and adhere to the agreement they have signed with us,” Larson said.
Larson said that deposit requirements are two times a client's highest bill plus connection fees, but said that the deposit will be returned with interest a year later. A third party company decides if the member's credit rating is good enough to receive the interest on the deposit.
Larson said he's been in contact with Rockton Township and is interesting in addressing their concerns.
“We will certainly listen to them and take their concerns under advisement,” Larson said.
If people want to help the McIntyre family, they can call and leave a message for Daniel McIntyre at 815-389-1713.
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| Dazzling downtown Beloit | Rockton seeks its own service |
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kellychad wrote on Dec 13, 2008 5:11 PM:
THANK YOU "