If you’ve missed a utility payment, or if you simply don’t have enough funds to pay the bill, then your electricity may eventually be shut off.
Before the lights go out, your utility company will usually send a 10-day notice to let you know that service will be shut off. Depending on where you live, after the 10-day notice, your utility company may make a couple of attempts to reach you, either by phone or by visit. If after these final notices your bill is not yet paid, your electricity will be shut off.
You can take comfort in knowing that you’ll receive a notice before drastic measures are taken – unless your utilities are in a hazardous condition. If this is the case, they’ll be shut off without advance notice.
The only way you can prevent your utility company from shutting off your electricity is if doing so would be a danger to someone in your home. If someone in your house is certified as seriously ill by a licensed physician, and you’re able to obtain a letter from that physician stating why shutting off the electricity can be detrimental, then the utility company will keep your electricity on.
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If you’ve found yourself faced with this issue more than once, there are some things you can do on your own that will help you lower your energy consumption.
How you can limit your electricity consumption to help lower your energy bill.
Limiting your electricity consumption starts with upgrading your utilities, and ends with establishing healthy energy consuming habits.
A quick fix that can save you as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs, is to turn back your thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7˚-10˚F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.”
Another quick fix is to replace your current incandescent and compact fluorescent lights with LED bulbs. Light emitting diodes or LEDs don’t emit the type of heat that the other bulbs do. LED bulbs help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while incandescent and CFLs directly contribute to it.
For more helpful quick tips, check out our blog “How small daily routines can lower your energy bill.” Reading that article will provide you with even more info that can help you reduce your electricity bill.
Besides making changes on your own, you can reach out to various organizations that can offer aid and support to help you keep the lights on. If you’re in need of immediate assistance and support, it might be best to dial 2-1-1. This number works a bit like 9-1-1, but rather than an emergency center, you’ll be connected to your regional or local calling center, that could connect you to an agency or organization that can help you with your utility bill.
Another program at your disposal is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This government program offers grants that can help offset high costs – depending on how much you qualify for.
Why you should sign up now for Bill Pay with Arcadia Power.
Another way to save on your electricity bill is to sign up for Bill Pay with Arcadia Power. By enrolling, you’ll stop paying transaction fees – which are usually inevitable when paying by credit card.
Besides avoiding transaction fees, Arcadia Power will guarantee that your bill is paid on time. So as we mentioned earlier, if your electricity was shut off because you simply forgot about your bill – signup with Arcadia Power, and make sure that mistake doesn’t happen again. For more information, check out our How Bill Pay Works. After reviewing the information, sign up to mark the first step in making sure your electricity stays on.