Opinion

Wrong house targeted for power shut-off


Published: July 6, 2009

To the editor:

I would like to comment on Richard B. Johnson's letter (June 29) regarding "power shut off for wrong house." The same thing happened to me, but it was in the dead of winter and with National Grid.

It just so happened that I came home for lunch that snowy day in January when I noticed a National Grid truck parked in my driveway and all my lights were shut off. When I asked the serviceman why my lights were shut off, he told me "the owner of the house asked for the electricity to be shut off." When I told him that I was the owner, he argued with me that this was the correct house for shut-off. I promptly retrieved a bill receipt with my name on it to show him that I was clearly the owner, my bill had been paid, and I did not order my electricity to be shut off.

When I showed him the bill he said, "Oh, so you are not Martha ...?" (Mind you, there was no warning notice by mail or phone that the electricity was going to be shut off.) They just came over to the house and shut the electricity off.

If I had not been there at that time, or worse, if I was away on vacation, my pipes would have frozen, my aquarium fish would have died as well as my parakeets.

Needless to say, no apology was given to me. Unbelievable.

I know exactly how Mr. Johnson feels.

Veronica Atlantis

Salisbury