Beckley, WV (WOAY) – 80-year-old Ilene Patrick of Beckley lives alone on Social Security, and has spent years falling further behind on her electric bill, despite paying what she could each month. Her August statement from Appalachian Power shows a past-due balance of $9,445.
“This kind of bill in my entire 80 years, I’ve never seen a bill like this,” said Ilene Patrick, an Appalachian Power customer.
Ilene said that as the balance grew, the company offered her a payment plan, but the monthly amount was more than her income could cover.
“What they wanted me to pay was $700 on the plan, plus my bill. I said, well, my check is only $800, how can I do that? … How’d the bill get like that? Or why would you let my bill get that high?” Ilene said.
She said she has since been told she must pay the full balance, plus a reconnection fee, to have her power restored.
George Porter, a spokesperson for Appalachian Power, said he could not discuss Ilene’s account, but that many of the company’s customers find themselves in similar situations.
“For a lot of our customers, life happens. You know, they get behind on a bill from time to time or they may have family emergencies or, you know, something happens at the house and they need to make repairs and they fall behind. You know, it’s not uncommon,” Porter said.
Porter said the company can spread past-due balances out over time and connect customers with assistance agencies.
“There’s no amount that we can’t work with … We’re not out to try to get people in, turn people off. We want to try to help our community, help our neighbors. And again, we can’t help without communication,” Porter said.
Ilene relies on life-support equipment. Appalachian Power confirmed in an August letter that it has her paperwork for the equipment on file. Porter said that in those cases, the company provides the power needed to keep the equipment running.
“The goal is to try to make sure those customers have the power they need to try to keep those lifesaving capabilities possible,” Porter said.
Ilene’s granddaughter, Beyonce Patrick, has helped her manage the account in recent years and worries about the strain it puts on her grandmother.
“She cannot afford that much and then she has to survive herself. It’s just too much on her. And what’s worrying me is her health because it’s declining. And then this, I don’t want her to end up back in the hospital,” Beyonce Patrick said.
For now, Ilene said she is finding ways to get by.
“I’m able to support myself still … So far I’m doing all right,” Ilene said.
