Look at what you agree to with a Duke “Equal Payment Plan”

Christopher writes

In 2018, she was able to get on the Duke “Equal Payment Plan” and her bills were (or so it seemed to me) rather reasonable throughout the year… but in late December 2018 or early January 2019 she got a nasty call — the Equal Payment Plan had “conveniently” left out some $700+ in overages that she’d have to deal with or they’d come and cut her off. They would not negotiate in any meaningful way, and any sort of noises along the lines of “your calculations were bad, it’s your fault, YOU take the hit” towards Duke Power were swiftly and forcefully nipped in the bud.



Look at what she agreed to: “At the end of your 12-month period, your total amount of energy used and paid for is assessed. Any over- or under-charge is divided among the following 12 months and included in your new monthly payment for the following year.” Clearly she overused an average of $58 per month which they allow her t o pay over the next 12 months WITHOUT INTEREST. Had she not signed up fo the equal payment plan, she would have had to pay it over the PREVIOUS 12 months. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

“Now her bills are $370 and for the first time in her life she’s confronting a set of bills which exceed her SSDI allotment even before food is taken into account.” If she has a heatpump., she is misusing it; he should help her out as I suggested. The idea that Duke Power put in new meters to overcharge people is absurd.

Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:13:12 -0500
From: Elliot Cramer
Subject: electricity