Overdue Electric Bill nearly costs man his vital Insulin

By: Daphne Chen

Ronnie Dawson of Greenville couldn't pay his electric bill and was worried about how he'd survive. It wasn't the heat so much as the lack of refrigeration for the insulin that he takes daily for his diabetes.

Dawson just bought and moved into his mobile home in May. He was floored by his first electricity bill when it arrived. "I got this high-dollar light bill, and it killed me," Dawson said. "I've gotten in over my head."

The bill from city-owned Greenville Electric Utility System was initially a little more than $365. But Dawson, 56, asked for another read of his meter. That did knock $89 off the total, but the clock was ticking. He now had fewer than 48 hours to come up with $276.

"It might not be much to you, but it is to me when I don't have [the money] and they won't work with me," Dawson said.

So he called Problem Solver. "I have to have my insulin. It has to be refrigerated. I don't know what to do. I've even tried to sell my pickup, but no one is buying," said the former tow-truck driver, who went on disability about two years ago because of his diabetes and Crohn's disease.

This was Dawson's first bill, so he would not qualify for an extension from GEUS. Also, his medical disability didn't qualify him for any leniency. The provider will not disconnect the electricity only if the resident is on some type of life support.

"Keeping insulin refrigerated probably would not qualify," said Jimmy Dickey, GEUS consumer services manager.

Dawson said that without refrigeration for his insulin and the food he needs to manage his diabetes, he'd be on life support soon enough. "If I go into a diabetic coma, let's see what they have to say about that," he said.

Fortunately, there was help for Dawson. On the advice of his local office of Adult Protective Services, and with Dawson's permission, Problem Solver turned in a report of his situation to the state.

The agency, which investigates abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults, acted immediately. Within hours of getting the report, APS made a one-time payment to keep the electricity on.

"The city was out here when they got the call not to disconnect. You timed that pretty close," Dawson said.

To avoid another impossible-to-pay bill, Dawson said he would sign up for a prepay option that Greenville provides residents.

"I want to thank you. I appreciate it. I'll do what I have to do," he said.

Dickey said the city, which has a "fair amount of disconnects," has had more than 700 people sign up for the pay-as-you-go option. "It allows them to buy electricity when they have money," he said. "It helps residents know how much they're using."

Update

Not surprisingly, there were no arrests in the rash of tire slashings up in Plano in April. Tires were hacked and punctured on more than a dozen vehicles on April 10, causing damage of roughly $15,000.

Police didn't think they would catch the person since cases of this sort are usually so random. They were right.

A request for information filed under the Texas Open Records Act with the Plano Police Department came back with the answer that no arrests have been made.

Source: Dallas News