Electricity Rant.

[Root beer]

I moved from a student living apartment to a more private apartment. The new apartment has me paying my bills directly to city's power company. The previous apartment I just paid it directly to the apartment manager. Well, at my previous apartment I paid everything on time nor was I ever late. Today, I called the city to get my account set up since I'm moving into my new apartment real soon. She said "Since you are new account, we will not turn the power on until you pay $300." Wait, what? I asked her if she ran my credit with my previous landlord will that lower my deposit, she said "$300 is what it will take to turn it on, sir." Seriously? Jeez. Talk about a slap in the face. I was expecting $100 maybe $200 at most to turn it on, not $300 in the manner in which she made it sound like.

[BASSclary]

WHAT!?

[Shad_Master]

I moved from Kansas City to Omaha when I was 42 years old and lived in an apartment for a time until my wife could join me and we could find a house. The local electic company told me I would have to have a co-signer even though I had a letter of employment from a major business. Needless to say that young lady and I have never exchanged Christmas cards. It ain't like you can go to the electic store across the street, they got you over a barrell and they know it.

[SDoolittle]

It ain't like you can go to the electic store across the street, they got you over a barrell and they know it.

You're right about that. Years ago, I signed a lease for an apartment in Texas and then called to have my utilities turned on. The electric dept told me it would be five days before they could send someone over to turn my power on. Five days! Then they were kind enough to tell me that for $100 I would be put on the priority list and my electric would be turned on that day.

[J Francho]

Imagine if there were several electric companies in your city, with competing rates, and several sets of power lines, LOL.

Sometimes, a monopoly isn't a bad thing. My guess is that they have had so many customers not pay or default on the bill that they had to institute a "security deposit."

[Stasher1]

I moved from a student living apartment to a more private apartment. The new apartment has me paying my bills directly to city's power company. The previous apartment I just paid it directly to the apartment manager. Well, at my previous apartment I paid everything on time nor was I ever late. Today, I called the city to get my account set up since I'm moving into my new apartment real soon. She said "Since you are new account, we will not turn the power on until you pay $300." Wait, what? I asked her if she ran my credit with my previous landlord will that lower my deposit, she said "$300 is what it will take to turn it on, sir." Seriously? Jeez. Talk about a slap in the face. I was expecting $100 maybe $200 at most to turn it on, not $300 in the manner in which she made it sound like.

I remember paying over $100 to have my electricity turned on 20 yrs ago, plus another hefty deposit for the water, another for the phone, etc. It's all part of the game. Just look at it as an interest-free savings account.

You'll get it back some day, as long as you pay your bills on time.

[bowfish12]

You need to go into the office to set it up. I work for an electric utility in Clarksville. We do charge a $150 deposit IF your credit check is horrible. I think you're in Chatt. so I would assume it would be the same, maybe the deposit is higher but you should still be able to do a credit check.

Sometimes the customer service reps don't know everything they should. That person could have been new as well. The previous tenant could have a bad debt. Your previous landlord could have a bad debt. Different factors come into play when you are setting up service.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Jumper cables from bottom to top of meter sockets

Naw I'm just funnin ya. The power co. really frowns on that, I believe it is also a felony.

[clayton86]

Wow iv never needed a deposit for any of my utilitys gas water or electric. The only thing iv had to fork money first for was cable and my cell and that was only 100 and 50.

[bwell]

I don't think its a deposit, its just what it cost to turn on the power. Around here is 100 bucks to have your power turned on if you are moving into a new place. Most of the time you can work something out with the person that use to live in the place to not have the power turned off and just transfer the names on the account to as some money.

[Root beer]

I went there in person and they lowered my deposit to $200 with a $40 outlet fee or something like that. I saved $60 bucks. lol.