Chicago Sun-Times

April 16, 2001

BY ADRIENNE DRELL STAFF REPORTER

Protests against Peoples Gas shutoffs of service to delinquent customers are planned to begin this morning, with the utility insisting that relatively few users will be affected.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson promised to block gas company trucks from leaving terminals to decry what he called Peoples "insistance on cutting off gas to people whose backs are against the wall."

And former state Treasurer Pat Quinn called on Peoples Gas to hold off any shutoff until an April 24 Illinois Commerce Commission hearing on a petition signed by 11,000 customers.

Quinn on Sunday visited the West Side home of Ruth Allen, a 73-year old grandmother who undergoes regular kidney dialysis and owes Peoples $2,443.58. She has sent two payments totaling $1,200.

Peoples spokeswoman Desiree Rogers said Allen--and anyone who made partial payments, was trying to work out a payment plan or who was involved in a dispute about billing--was in no immediate danger of a gas shutoff.

She said the disconnects that begin today will affect only vacant buildings and customers who have refused to make payments.

But Allen, who subsists on Social Security and income from tenants in a two-flat she owns, is not reassurred. In spite of her payments, Allen said she received a March 29 letter threatening disconnection unless she pays her entire bill.

"I don't know what will happen, and I feel real badly because I can't afford these bills," she said. "But I sent them $700 and $500 already."

Quinn accused Peoples of "saber rattling and threatening shutoff to a lot of people who are quite vulnerable and alone."

"That letter caused Ms. Allen great distress, and I am sure there are more Ms. Allens out there as well," Quinn said.

Jackson said protesters would gather outside the gates of five truck yards where Peoples Gas drivers report for work and then move to the utility's State Street offices at noon for a rally.

"The community will not be rolled over. We will fight back," Jackson said at a news conference Saturday. "We plan to stop those trucks from rolling."

Rogers insisted Peoples Gas was moving slowly in shutting off service and working closely with any of its 1 million customers in the area who had difficulties paying.

She acknowledged the harsh winter presented a hardship for many consumers, but noted Sunday, "The majority of our customers have paid their bills or made arrangements to do so. All we are asking is for people to make arrangements to make payments."

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Answers

hmmm, stopping the gas trucks from delivering the gas to people that need it.

I think Jackson has been sniffing gas too much...

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

I refuse to give my info to the NYTimes for a free subscription to their online issue, so you'll have to make do with this bit from Lucianne.

Protests Stall Planned Chicago Gas Shut-Offs CHICAGO, April 16 — After a morning of protests today, community activists won a delay in the beginning of shut-offs of natural gas service to customers behind on their utility bills here. The Rev. Jesse Jackson emerged from a meeting with officials at Peoples Gas, which supplies natural gas to 900,000 customers in the Chicago area, and announced that the utility's officials had agreed to postpone shut- offs for delinquent customers for at least one more day while it negotiated with Mr. Jackson and community leaders. But as snow fell from a gray sky on a cold, windy afternoon, shut- offs for some customers seemed to be only a matter of time. Community leaders are asking Peoples Gas to delay shut-offs until June 1. They said that would allow more time to seek additional help for the poor from the city and the state. A delay would also give the utility time to resolve problems with any bills that customers contended were inaccurate, said Mr. Jackson, who added that he would meet with company officials again Tuesday afternoon.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2001

Don't quite see how a lack of gas this time of year could be considered life-threatening. Don't we all know how to eat out of a can? Line dry our clothes? Brisk sponge bath with cold water? Doesn't affect a/c - that's electric. Maybe the occasional natural gas generator would be a problem.

For the folks having trouble paying their gas bill, seems like it could only be worse by next winter. So, how about an asterity program that at least keeps them from generating any more gas debt between now and sometime in October. That could be a win-win.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2001