On 4/17/2020 10:08 AM, Ophelia wrote:
> "Cindy Hamilton"Â* wrote in message
> ...
>
> On Friday, April 17, 2020 at 4:20:31 AM UTC-4, Ophelia wrote:
>> This morning I had a big shock!Â* There was a report on the radio that
>> many
>> people in USA were having a difficult time because they don't have
>> water?????
>>
>> Is that true!Â* You have to pay water bills and if you don't, you will
>> have
>> your water turned off????
>
> That's true.Â* Just like electricity or any other utility.
>
> ISTR that Detroit was putting water shutoffs in abeyance for the duration
> of the crisis.Â* I doubt they're turning it back on for people who already
> had it shut off, but you never know.
>
>> I have never heard of such a thing!!!!!Â*Â* How on earth can those people,
>> at
>> a time like this, manage with no water?????
>
> The same way they manage at any other time with no water.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
> ====
>
> But for domestic water?
>
> Â*Â*Â* UK regulations:
>
> Â*Â*Â* "Can a water company cut me off? No, a water company
> Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* cannot cut off the supply to a domestic property if you
> Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* currently live in it.
>
> Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Despite this it's still important to pay any arrears
> Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* to avoid the risk of court action."
>
> I am shocked that is not the same everywhere
>
Unless you have a *well* you pay whatever local company there is to
provide water. Yes, they expect you to pay the bill.

People don't always have a choice about where to get their water. When
I lived in west Tennessee, even though I didn't live within the Memphis
city limits, it was provided by Memphis Light Gas & Water. It's not as
if I could shop around for a different water provider or an electric
provider, either. Here in Beaufort County, water is provided by
Beaufort Jasper Water Authority. (Jasper is an adjoining county.)
Electricity and gas (if gas in an option) is a totally different company.

During this pandemic it is up to the individual providers as to whether
or not they shut off services. I've not heard of any running around
willy nilly shutting off water or electricity because suddenly people
can't pay the monthly bill. They aren't charging late fees or racking
up penalties for non-payment. They aren't disconnecting service due to
lack of payment. That would make them look *really* bad. But at some
point they do expect to be paid.

They're the ones maintaining the infrastructure and they have to pay
their employees. The billing clerks can work from home, sure. But the
people out repairing broken water mains and electric and gas lines are
still out there on the job so people won't have to go without essential
services.

People are being asked to pay as much as they can (even if it's just a
couple of dollars) each month so when this pandemic is finally over they
won't be hit with huge bills in arrears.

Jill