Need Advice Paying For $1300 Electric Bill

[darkswordsman17]

Er, OP is in California? Most utilities offer payment plans especially if you're low income, and I'd guess California is even more likely to offer such. And while might not be available right now, quite a few places they cannot turn off your service (but usually for safety reasons, i.e. turn off in heat/cold). And if it was a clerical error on their end, I really cannot fathom them being able to drop a bill on someone like that. Heck, I'd even wonder if maybe the OP's landlord might not be the one behind it (if he pays through his landlord). I'd triple check with your utility service before paying any of it, as could easily be some sort of scam.

And quite a few organizations will help with stuff like this (pay such critical bills, provide food or other that could save you elsewhere), although finding them might be an issue, but again, California is almost certainly easier than other places.

OP: learn a new skill? Oh, right, that takes money and electricity to start. Plus, it might not be up your alley.

Dude, seriously don't post shit like that.

 

[pete6032]

Isn't it the utility's fault for not billing you? I would tell them you are happy to pay your bill moving forward as long as they bill you on time.

 

[Charmonium]

Something similar happened to me except they that there was a change in the account due the removal of a meter dedicated specifically to the electric hot water heater (you used to get a discount for only using it at night).

After several months it finally dawned on my that I hadn't been getting a bill. So I notified them and it was only after the new meter was installed that they started to bill me again.

 

[MrSquished]

Update us if you take care of this. You seem like someone who was dealt a tough hand of cards in life, and in a country with very little social safety nets, it's hard to flip that into a good hand. All the best.

 

[BoomerD]

Update us if you take care of this. You seem like someone who was dealt a tough hand of cards in life, and in a country with very little social safety nets, it's hard to flip that into a good hand. All the best.

Don’t fall for his trolling bullshit.

 

[Torn Mind]

If one is bright enough to find one income-based government assistance program, it isn't too hard to find the others, including energy assistance.

A little juice to print out the document scans, charge up a phone at the library he frequents, a little postage assistance, some pleading phone calls b/c emergency.

 

[Gizmo j]

My electricity is back on, my case manager asked me to do a $200 deposit to the company and they turned it back on, I'll find out tomorrow what my payment plan is.