Emergency Measures

I got an email from Spire today. Spire used to be Alabama Gas Company. For me, they provide the gas for my hot water heater and my stove. (They also heat my house in the winter).

Anyway, this email said they will “suspend” all late fees, disconnect notices and disconnections until “at least” May 1. Mostly this is because they are trying to keep their employees safe from COVID-19, by keeping them home. Great!

Most utility companies in my area are doing something similar. Awesome!

THIS IS A WARNING to people who think the utility companies are being altruistic.

THIS EMAIL IS MISLEADING!!!

People, do NOT think you’re safe from paying your utility bills. If you are out of work, and do not have the money to pay your gas bill THIS month, it probably means you won’t have the money to pay your gas bill next month either, unless a miracle or a tragedy happens. Don’t count on either.

So the bottom line is, although your utilities won’t be disconnected this month, if you don’t pay the bill, you will owe double NEXT month, and next month they WILL disconnect and charge you late fees and a deposit and reconnect fee, so it really will take a miracle to get your lights back on. Multiply that by water, gas, rent, car payment, insurance, etc. and you’re in a hole it might take years to crawl out of.

I don’t know the answer. I’ve lived all my life with barely any “reserve” for emergencies, just like many young people (and frankly, many older people) today.

When I drive through the Summit and see empty parking lots, I think of the thousands of store clerks/associates, theater employees, musicians, waiters, dishwashers, managers, cooks who might be one or two checks away from homelessness. I raised a family just like that. Many of them are doing the same thing.

So I’m asking this:

I know the CEO of Alabama Power isn’t reading this, so I can’t speak to the utility companies, but if you are someone who is in control of someone’s rent, house payment, car payment, etc. you probably DO have a “reserve”. Please consider letting people who are out of work, through no fault of their own, slide one month. I’m talking about let them SKIP their upcoming April payment altogether. I repeat: NOT just let them pay double in May, but GIVE THEM A REAL BREAK.

I can’t promise God will bless you for that, but I CAN promise that ultimately, you just might be saving a life, and that alone is a blessing.