Published: June 22, 2009 07:26 pm      

High electric bills plunge many less fortunate into darkness

BLUEFIELD — When a home loses its electricity, life changes for the worse. Cooking often becomes impossible, there’s no hot water, no television or radio, and night plunges the home into darkness. This is bad enough when a storm cuts off electricity, but worse when service ends because power bills can’t be paid.

Electric utilities are currently seeking to raise their rates. On June 5, the West Virginia Public Service Commission denied a request from American Electric Power for an 18.5 percent interim increase. In March, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, both subsidiaries of AEP, filed a request for a $442 million, or 43 percent, increase.

Growing power bills are putting more pressure on households with minimum incomes. For example, the Bluefield Union Mission has seen the number of residents facing the termination of their electric service triple in just one year, said Craig Hammond, the mission’s director.

“In fact, there is presently more than 100 area families living in the dark,” Hammond said. “More and more people are facing termination–the likes of which we have never seen before.”

The mission has assisted more than 300 families with payments on electric bills during the past three months, he said. Living without power makes day-to-day living a challenge, one Bluefield, Va. couple said.

Bessie Young, 36 and Buddy Kitts, 51 had to leave their Tazewell, Va. home when Kitts, who is disabled, lost some Social Security benefits. After living with friends, they found a home in Bluefield, Va., but then had trouble getting electricity. First they discovered that thieves had stripped out the copper wiring, and some rewiring failed to meet town code regulations. They came to union mission to seek help.

“It’s hard to live with no water and electricity,” Young said. “You can’t drink, you can’t take a bath.”

“You try to look on the bright side,” Kitts added. “At least you have a roof over your head. You think about the time of Jesus and they didn’t have electricity, but it was a different way of life then.”

They use kerosene lanterns for lighting, but such sources of illumination can be dim.

“It throws off a little light. I have bruises all over from running into stuff,” Young said. “The union mission is a miracle to a lot of people. They really are.”

“There are a lot of people being cut off, but they don’t know where to go. It’s hard when you can’t wash clothes, can’t eat,” Kitts said.

Hammond said the mission was helping the couple with getting water service and getting their home’s electric breaker up to code, and with some gasoline so they can drive to other services. The mission was also providing a hand crank powered radio and food that can be eaten without being cooked or refrigerated.

“We do the best that we can with the resources we have,” Hammond said. “I have seen electric bills that exceed $1,000. In most cases we will help with a portion of the bill to help prevent termination. But even when people have their service disconnected we can still help make living without electricity a bit more comfortable.”

The mission has a supply of battery-powered lanterns, flash lights, and hand-generated radios for those who have to live without power, he said.

People who wish to donate battery-powered or oil lamps, food or other supplies can contact the mission at 304-327-8167.

In Princeton, the Salvation Army has also worked to help residents with power bills they cannot pay, said Sara Keys, social service director.

“It’s been the same here. They’re about to lose it (electricity). A few times it’s already been turned off. They still have high bills, and they pay what they can on it, “ Keys said. “We’ve had bills with $300, some have been $600, and I’ve had one that’s $1,000.”

The Salvation Army tries to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but the Salvation Army can only help with bills on 30 day amounts. Sometimes power companies work with the Salvation Army, but not always, she said. “Sometimes they want the full amount,” Keys said. “Sometimes they (applicants) come up with part of it and we try to help with the rest.”

The Salvation Army can be reached at 304-425-2971 in Princeton and 304-327-7411 in Bluefield.