Letters of the Editor

To the Editor:

I want to tell the citizens of Union County what happened to me this weekend. The gas company came to my house and with no “ifs ands or buts” proceeded to cut off my gas and took my meter away. The word I got was I was using more gas than usual and I may have a leak. They did not check to see who was living in the house, me a 97-year-old woman and two disabled siblings. They had no idea what we cooked with or heated the house with, they just cut off the gas. My son has a very bad back situation and has to take scalding hot baths very often, now he won’t be able to. Two years ago my daughter came to live with me, she has thyroid trouble and meniere’s disease. So yes, we use more gas than before, washing clothes, bathing, cooking, etc. I live in an old two-story house and I have gas heaters in every room which I keep going so the house does not get cold. What I’m peered about is that they didn’t care how it would affect us in the house without any fair thought as to what we should do. Then they want to dig up the pipes and check them and cap off the gas heaters in the house and charge me. Then charge me the same should I go back to gas, which I’m not, they can keep their gas, I’m going electric, I will feel safe if it happens again - I’m wondering if its about money! This $100 for each gas heater to cap and uncap plus digging up the yard. Also the cost of a new meter and the cost of putting it back in working order. No, I’m going electric. All I’ll be out now is the cost of a new hot water heater. I have several electric heaters already. What everyone is mystified about is why didn’t they give me time to do something, go to a motel or something, we cannot live without hot water in this weather. And with two disabled children it will be hard to do anything in a hurry.

TD Novick El Dorado

To the Editor:

I would like to complement your choice of Richard Mason’s Sunday articles. They are always enjoying and informative. I look forward to reading them every Sunday.

Thank you. Jim Sheppard El Dorado