XPost: uk.people.consumers, alt.consumers.experiences, alt.consumers 
 XPost: misc.consumers 
 From: gordonb.da3z2@sneaky.lerctr.org 
  
 >That's what I thought as well.  As it happens, I have enough money to 
 >cover the ~$300 surprise electricity bill, but for families or elderly 
 >people living on a very strict budget.. well, I don't know what they'd 
 >do.  And I think my bill wasn't nearly as big as it could have been. 
 >Mine was only over the course of 6-9 months.  If they'd waited the 
 >full two years, it could have been absolutely enormous.  A major 
 >annoyance for me, I'm sure, but asbolutely crippling for the single 
 >mother just barely getting by from paycheck to paycheck. 
  
 What does the power company do when the surprise electricity bill 
 comes back to them marked "DECEASED"?  Do they get stuck for the 
 money?  It seems that the estate, if there was any money in it, 
 might be settled by then. 
  
 Even if you live in a part of the United States where meters are 
 regularly read once a month, and especially if you're in the UK 
 where they can take 2 years, if you move: 
  
  (1) Ask the power company (and other utilities, such as 
  water and gas) to read the meter after you move out. 
  (2) Read the meter(s) YOURSELF.  Compare this with the bill 
  to see that (1) actually got done. 
  (3) Get back your deposit, if any. 
  
 Repeat (1) and (2) for the place you move TO.  You may get stuck 
 for power for a couple of days between the time the last occupant 
 moves out and you move in (well, someone has to pay it).  You don't 
 want to get stuck for a whole month, or worse, mis-estimated rates 
 for two years. 
  
 Does this power company have anything to do with this web site? 
  http://www.powergenitalia.com/ 
  
       Gordon L. Burditt 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)