Who Loves JEA?

[77danj7]

http://www.news4jax.com/money/26680230/detail.html

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Just as Jacksonville homeowners are paying sky-high electric bills for keeping their homes warm during December's record cold weather, some of the same people having trouble paying their JEA bills are being asked to pay an additional deposit.

The city-owned utility calls it deposit reassessment, and report a 50 percent increase in January in the number of current customers having to pay a deposit.

Francia Paulino was one of many people standing in line Monday to pay an electric bill that had doubled over the previous month. She isn't required to pay an additional deposit but spoke about them.

"We don't have jobs or anything and we have to give up more money -- money that they are not going to give back anyway," Paulino said. "That's ridiculous."

The JEA has a formula that gives all customers 1,000 points, but they lose 100 points for each bounced check and another 100 points if the become two months behind and their power is shut off. If a customer's points drop below 800, the utility is assess a deposit.

"We do assess deposit when you reach a threshold, as far as your credit score with JEA," said utility spokeswoman Gerry Boyce.

Once customer who contacted Channel 4's Jim Piggott after his power was disconnected for two days now has to pay $740 just to keep his electricity on.

"How is this working with people and not pouring salt in a wound?" Shawn G. wrote in an e-mail "How is it moral or ethical for them to charge outrageous deposits if you are already struggling?"

JEA said it can work with people and spread that deposit payment over several months, but they have to charge those with a problem payment history more to protect its other customers from having to pay for their losses.

"What we try to do is limit or lessen the number of write-offs we have," Boyce said.

[jcjohnpaint]

In the north they call it the Mafia and in Jax they call it JEA

[uptowngirl]

In the north they call it the Mafia and in Jax they call it JEA

+1000!!!!!

[Shwaz]

This happened to me years ago when I was habitually late with my payments. I was consistently 2 months behind when they hit me for a $500 add-on deposit. Even though I was late, I always paid... and in lump sums. The $500 seemed to be an exorbitant amount and I was furious... not that it mattered. What are you going to do, take your business to another provider?

[fsujax]

I really do not know what has happend to JEA, it surely isnt the same company my grandparents and great-grandparents used to work for. very sad. the same could be said about COJ and JTA.

[ChriswUfGator]

Short answer to your question, no, there's nobody who actually likes JEA. Except maybe the GOB's running it and getting rich off it. Even then they probably still hate the service but just like the $$$.

[RiversideLoki]

And then you have the "Well if you paid your bill on time it wouldn't be a problem" guys, not to mention the "we still have the lowest rates in never-never-land" crowd.

I was just talking about this with some of my NYC friends while I was down in Miami this weekend who have apartments similarly sized. 400 dollar a month bills are unheard of, one of them actually audibly gasped.

I've been hit with this late tax (and I call it a tax because you will most likely never.. ever.. see that money again. And you have no choice but to pay it) and it sucks. Because the reason you're running behind on your bill is because you don't have the money to pay it. Tack on the JEA late fee, a reconnection fee if necessary, and throw in a deposit 2.5 times the size of the bill and you're screwed.

If there's a reason that pay-day loan shark places exist in Jacksonville, it's JEA.

It's 2 steps shy of a mafia racket. "Gee, it sure would be a shame if we had to cut your power off or raise your rates. You know, if you give me a little extra scratch I can make sure that we can have a 'peaceful neighborhood'. Wouldn't want anything to happen to that pretty little elderly grandmother of yours. If ya catch my drift."

[BridgeTroll]

OK... what should JEA's response be to unpaid or chronically late bills?  Should they just keep adding it to next months bill?  Billing forgiveness?  Raise the rates of the "rich people" so those who cannot pay, do not have to?

Solutions?  Suggestions?  Helpful hints?

[ChriswUfGator]

OK... what should JEA's response be to unpaid or chronically late bills?  Should they just keep adding it to next months bill?  Billing forgiveness?  Raise the rates of the "rich people" so those who cannot pay, do not have to?

Solutions?  Suggestions?  Helpful hints?

And when the bills are unpaid because of the doubling of rates since 2005?

And when this money goes to make loans and equity investments in other businesses linked to management?

And when the same people who's power is being disconnected actually own the utility?

What then?

[77danj7]

OK... what should JEA's response be to unpaid or chronically late bills?  Should they just keep adding it to next months bill?  Billing forgiveness?  Raise the rates of the "rich people" so those who cannot pay, do not have to?

Solutions?  Suggestions?  Helpful hints?

Many people are being penalized right now for late payments or problems they may have had 12 months ago...
People may have fixed their situations from past problems (ie, unemployment, reduction of hours, increase in utilities and/or expenses) yet they are still being hit with $500 + deposit requirements.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Well, well, well.....

I guess for those of you unfortunate people who can't seem to pay your electric bills, it's time to cut back on your expanded cable, drop the imports and start drinking Natural Light and maybe quitting smoking should be in the cards.

Wait, I rushed to judgement again, silly me.

I'm sure all of the people having problems with their JEA bill have already trimmed their budgets as far back as they can, they don't drink or smoke, eating out is just a rich person's deream and it's just the power of the megamonopoly kicking them while their down on their luck.

[BridgeTroll]

OK... what should JEA's response be to unpaid or chronically late bills?  Should they just keep adding it to next months bill?  Billing forgiveness?  Raise the rates of the "rich people" so those who cannot pay, do not have to?

Solutions?  Suggestions?  Helpful hints?

Still nothing?  I had three suggestions off the top of my head.  Certainly someone here has concrete solutions...

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Still nothing?  I had three suggestions off the top of my head.  Certainly someone here has concrete solutions...

it's time to cut back on your expanded cable, drop the imports and start drinking Natural Light and maybe quitting smoking

[77danj7]

Well, well, well.....

I guess for those of you unfortunate people who can't seem to pay your electric bills, it's time to cut back on your expanded cable, drop the imports and start drinking Natural Light and maybe quitting smoking should be in the cards.

Wait, I rushed to judgement again, silly me.

I'm sure all of the people having problems with their JEA bill have already trimmed their budgets as far back as they can, they don't drink or smoke, eating out is just a rich person's deream and it's just the power of the megamonopoly kicking them while their down on their luck.

Good idea since everyone fits into your broad brushstroke picture of society...I didn't realize everyone had expanded cable, drank and smoked?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Turn off your sarcasm filter and read it again.