By Leticia Miranda – NBC News
When the Texas power plant collapsed due to the historic historic tower, José Del Río, a resident of Haltom City, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, came the electricity bill from a vacation home that deals with sell little by little during the last two weeks. Generally speaking, billing is from 125 to 150 dollars per month, according to Del Río. Prohibition of probes, the electricity bill has a cargo of 630 dollars this month, and today he has another 2,600 dollars.
“If the emperor’s things, you can at least load up a credit card or some kind of irregularities”, dijo. “There are no people living in this house. All the windows are open. But the air in the 60s is not because the tubers are congelen”.
When communicating with Griddy, his electricity company, he agrees to change provider, insurer.
Griddy’s prices depend on the market and, by the way, his kwesbaar has changed clothes on demand. With extreme climate, the electricity guest has lost, raising his prices to a maximum of 9,000 dollars per megavatio / hour, in comparison with the stationary premium of 50 dollars per megavatio / hour.
[Casi la mitad de la población en Texas sigue sin suministro de agua potable]
Prior to the increase in costs, Griddy stated that consumers should consider temporarily changing electricity prices in order to pay their bills.
Griddy did not respond to NBC News’ solicitation of comments, the Telemundo News herman.
The Texas Electricity Conservancy Council (ERCOT, in English), which administers approximately 90% of the state’s electric charge, does not establish a program for the last week’s conditions: the primary electric power is available. for a demand for energy from the commune. And while the tenants intend to surrender their seats, the demand raises the highest estimates that habian hecho the public service officials.
“Assuming Responsibility for the Current Situation with ERCOT”, says Jueves to the President of Texas, Greg Abbott.
Customers run ERCOT service areas as well as have huge electricity bills. Veronica García, client of Reliant Energy, and the locals of Mansfield, is an NBC news that the proyección de your electricity bill is double that you normally pay on my for this service.
[Autoridades de Texas piden hervir el agua de la llave por la ruptura de las tuberías por las nevadas]
His last monthly payment was 63 dollars, on February 11, for an apartment. Now the projection is between 114 and 133 dollars for March, documents reviewed by NBC News.
His house has no electricity during one of the three hours of March. But since the golpeo the torment, there has not been much energy. Ella laat vaar ó su apartamento el martes para quedarse con su suegra a causa del frío.
“With certainty, if his people are decent, he will not cover the people for this, because we have no control over this situation,” said Garcia, who works as an administrative assistant at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Ojalá can disputar los cargos y ellos hagan lo correcto”.
La portavoz de Reliant Energy, Megan Talley, airs an NBC news that offers the possibility to market the flexibility of the load factors for each aiudar. Dijo that customers should contact directly with the company “so that we can meet them at this difficult time”.
Oncor Electric Delivery, distributed by Reliant Energy, is no response to NBC News’ comments.
Texas roads protect consumers from businesses that exploit natural disasters with finesse, but it is not clear if these laws can be extended to protect the electricity customers affected by the high bills, said Keegan Warren-Clem, advocate for the organization of fines at the Texas Legal Services Center.
Federal programs such as the energy assistance program for large-scale droughts can protect customers who are overweight and overweight. If not qualified for the federal program, a client can search for assistance programs with bills and charitable organizations or churches.
“There is a lack of action at the state level, there are limited options available to burn a constant level”, says Warren-Clem.
Clients can meet with their credit card issuers to cover the invoice in place, said Matt Schulz, chief analyst at LendingTree Finance Company. We also believe that credit card companies have become more flexible with providers during the course of the pandemic.
“The last thing that needs a lot of money at the moment is a higher electricity bill, and it’s something with which, unfortunately, a lot of people tend to suffer”, says Schulz.
Royce Pierce and his wife, Danielle, who lived in Willow Park, west of Dallas, have just received their electricity bill, which has raised nearly $ 10,000 in the last ten days in their three-story home. If the family belongs to the NBC News que if considered unfortunate because he has not lost the service, the cost is accompanied by an additional challenge.
[Tormenta invernal: ¿cómo prepararse y mantenerse a salvo?]
Given that the family has a variable tariff plan with Griddy, the company automatically cobra the electricity that gastan has mediated that the gastan. Danielle says he blocked the debit card from the cobraban on his bill because Griddy collapsed. The family has been using separate accounts and credit cards to pay off their needs while the torment continues continuously.
“We hope we have some alivio”, says Royce. “Is it okay for us to sort out and sort and resolve with the time that passes, but how many people can do it?” A mountain “.