Statement from Mia Johnson, Pepco customer
In May 2009, I received a Pepco bill for my basement/lower unit of my home in the amount of $2064.61. I could not believe what I reading. I called to verify, and also asked for a print-out of my statements for the last 10 years, which I offered to pay for, but was told that this was impossible.
To put salt on the wound, in December 2009, I received a bill for the upper unit in the amount of $7,418.52 for a 33-month period of estimated readings. Turns out, for almost three years, Pepco had been billing me “estimates,” and now they claim I actually owe thousands and thousands more to them, and if I don’t pay, they will shut me off.
I am a responsible consumer. I leave my back door open for meter readings on the date stated on the bill and lock it the following morning. I do not understand why I was never contacted or received any postcards to record the readings myself, as is required by law, and as I have done in the past. For some billing periods, I received actual bills for one unit, and estimated bills for the other, even though the meters are located in the same place.
With my hands being tied, I was forced to borrow money from my parents and sister to begin to make payments on this erroneous bill. I was very embarrassed, to say the least, as I have never borrowed money to pay any of my bills. This is not the example I want to set for my daughter. I have made substantial payments, but I still received a shutoff notice.
I remember seeing a segment on Channel 7 about Justice First, and their fight to help District residents who have been charged these astronomical amounts in their utility bills. I contacted Justice First to set up an appointment as opposed to me trying to handle the situation myself, which, in my experience, is very difficult. They are currently helping me initiate an investigation into this matter through governmental agencies so that I can get to bottom of these unbelievable Pepco bills.
I am far from rich…anything but rich. I go to work every day to make ends meet. I am a single working mother with a teenage daughter. She is beginning the college search and filling out college applications. Like any parent, I have dreams of my daughter going to college. Her dream is to go to college. But the reality is that this may not be possible if I am expected to hand over all my income and savings to Pepco. My nights have been sleepless. I cannot pay what Pepco demands, and I can’t live my life borrowing or going into debt to pay utility bills (I have not mentioned the cost of my gas bill). There is no way on God’s green earth that I have legitimately accrued close to $10,000 in electricity usage.
What are working people to do? What are those on fixed income to do? We have to fight back! We have to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. The utility companies and the executives are making millions and millions of dollars in profits and bonuses at the expense of the ordinary person: the customer, the residents of the District of Columbia. We don’t have a choice to take our business elsewhere because they have monopolized this industry. Electricity and heat are not luxuries. They are basic necessities for everyone. This has to stop now!
Angry District Resident,
Mia Johnson
