Fuel For Thought

Dallas Resident Hit With $5,000 Electric Bill

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― Dallas resident Sheila King says she's always careful to conserve electricity, and she's used to seeing $50 bills from Stream Energy.

"My thermostat in here, it's 80 degrees now," King said. "I count on my light bill being low because I'm never home."

Now, she's faced with five bills totaling almost $5000.

"I have my other bills," King said. "School just started back. I have a son in college. I can't afford it."

The five bills all came from Stream Energey this month are for service from March until August. Sheila says she doesn't know what caused the sudden spike. She believes an electrician who wired her home may have installed her meter incorrectly.

"The light company told me it was upside down," King said. "The electrician was here a few minutes ago and said it was turned on its side."

Sheila says, what's even more frustrating, is that Stream Energy hasn't told her how to fix the problem.

"I've called and called and everyone's giving me the runaround," she said.

When CBS 11 called Stream Energy, a spokesperson sent a statement: "Stream Energy is aware that there exists a billing dispute with this customer and that Oncor is investigating. We have protected this particular account until we have an answer from Oncor concerning the findings of their investigation."

Sheila says she was never informed that Oncor was investigating. Instead, she was told to pay up or her power would be disconnected. Sheila says she will pay the bill if there's proof that she consumed that much electricity.

"I think it's not just right," she said.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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