Egyptian Electric complaints

2 locations identified in Rockwood IL were connected in Mr. Dickerson's name on 12/30/19: 12/30/19, Loc 45-23-0012; Meter 51290 connected with no deposit since another location was being connected in Mr. Dickerson's name. 3/10/21, Loc 45-23-0012 was disconnected for nonpayment due to 90 day past due balances. Services are disconnected for nonpayment once past due balances reach 90 days. Monthly bills were sent in Jan., Feb., and March with notices printed in ret alerting Mr. Dickerson with late balances to contact our office immediately. When Mr. Dickerson set up his accounts on 12/20/19, he requested all mail go to address on State Route 3 in Rockwood IL 62280. We were not notified of any change. Before actual disconnections are made, phone calls are made and a message went to Mr. Dickerson on 3/8/21 that "According to our records; your account is past due; in order to avoid service interruption please call our office immediately at 800-606-1505. Thank you". On 3/10/21, Mr. Dickerson was given the option of paying the full amount due plus a $500 deposit or he could start a PrePay account where he could pay 25% of his balance due plus $50 paid ahead on meter usage and he would be allowed to pay the balance still owed on his account as he made payments toward his current usage. On 3/17/21, Mr. Dickerson signed paperwork and paid enough to start a PrePay account at this location. On 4/12/21, as per the agreement, if a credit balance is not maintained on PrePay account, the meter at that location is allowed to disconnect. A copy of that agreement is (provided to BCA for review). This agreement also documents that any meter tampering is cause for immediate disconnect without the option of using the PrePay system again. 12/30/19, Loc 45-23-0004; Meter 50565 connected with a deposit paid. 8/19/21, Loc 45-23-0004 was disconnected for nonpayment due to 90 day past due balances. Services are disconnected for nonpayment once past due balance reach 90 days. Monthly bills were sent in June, July and August with notices printed in red alerting Mr. Dickerson with late balances to contact our office immediately. On 8/19/21, he called in to ask how he could get his service reconnected. His options were to pay in full or he could start a PrePay account where he could pay 25% of his balance due plus $50 paid ahead on meter usage and he would be allowed to pay the balance still owed on his account as he made payments toward his current usage. He signed the paperwork but did not make a payment to activate his account. On 9/2/21, when we closed out his account, we sent a serviceman to disconnect the dusk to dawn light at this location. The serviceman discovered the cover off our meter base and the bypass handle was up at the other location (45-23-0012) that has been disconnected on 4/12/21. This situation indicated meter tampering and a deputy from Jackson County met our serviceman at this location so there could be a formal report documented (enclosed to BCA). On 9/7, our metering system detected meter tampering at location 45-23-0004. The serviceman went to the site and discovered the cover off the meter and the meter laying on the ground underneath our meter base. On 9/20, he again called our office to ask what he needed to pay to reconnect service. When anyone is past due or disconnect for nonpayment, our CSR talk to our members about contacting their local assistance agency to see if they can get help paying their electric bills if they are struggling to make enough money. We also suggested he find out who was attempting to get electric service illegally if he wasn't there. Meter tampering is not only illegal but very dangerous. Someone could easily get hurt or even killed if they come in contact with electricity inside our equipment. If Mr. Dickerson is renting from someone and they were the ones who may have attempted to get power illegally, I would like to speak with them. If the owner will contact us, I will allow Mr. Dickerson to reconnect the one meter on the Prepay system with an initial payment of what he owes in electricity without a deposit or meter tampering fee.

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