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Old 01-15-2007, 12:39 AM
mom-from-missouri mom-from-missouri is offline
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Default Re: Credit from electric company for days without power?

Having worked for a utility for over 20 years, no, you will not get credit.
#1. As you already pointed out, you weren't billed for it. They can not afford to give everyone who lost electric during the storm credit back for something that was not paid for to begin with.
Also, in my state, if you called and asked for the credit and they did give it to you, they would then have to give it to all customers. That could break the company-litterly. It is discrimanition to only give the credit to certain groups or certain people (ie only to the people who called and asked for it). Believe it or not, most utilities don't really bring in that much money. There is a lot of money in maintaining the lines and equipment, payroll, insurance, vehicles..... That is why in rural areas you see a lot of coops-No one person or company can afford to own the electric company.
#2. The PSC (Public servic commission who governs the utilities in your state) will be on the side of the utility company on this one. The storm was not caused by the electric company, nor could they have done anything to prevent the storm. The storm was caused by an act of nature. HOWEVER, you may be able to recoup some loss from your renters or homeowners insurance if you lost money/materials as a result-such as loss of food in a freezer, pipes freezing and breaking as a result and then ruining furniture or flooring...it would depend on your insurance coverage.

Now, for phone and cable/dish, its different. You pay a set monthly fee, plus any extras such as a long distance call or ordering up a movie. They can give you credit for days you had no service off of the flat monthly rate.

Sorry. Probably not the answer you wanted to hear.
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