Anyone live without electricity??? - Page 2

[1growingsprout]

DO you have a free standing home or an apt/condo type thing?
Have you applied to modestneeds.org and holiday helper?

Have you asked at your childs school for assistance. While it maybe be humbling schools have resources to help families in need.

IMO adults living w. out power is one thing, children w/out power in the winter takes it to a whole 'nother level.

You need to think about what the neighbors are going to say when your house is black at 6pm and everyone else has lights on. That is going to raise some huge flags...

Im not saying you cant live w. out power, but you need to be prepared for the CPS issue.

[polyhymnia]

People used to live without power, but they were prepared for it in houses and environments where that worked.

Around here 2 years ago there was a big storm just before Christmas and there were some places without power for over a week and it was really bad. people struggled, A LOT. People died too, a lot from carbon monoxide.

I hope you can find a way to manage. Just please be careful.

[bonbon mama]

I know that you can drain pipes but I do not know how to do it.

You could try to insulate pipes that you want to still be able to use; the water in the pipes could stay in the 40s if it is possible to limit the pipes exposure to the freezing air. The water enters your home pretty close to 50 in Ohio; you would get frozen pipes when the cold air cools the water in the pipes.

I'd call your natural gas provider and your electric provider and ask them for ideas to keep your heat on. I'd also call your local councilperson or city hall and ask them for advice.

[Treasuremapper]

I agree. Call your elected representatives. Have you already checked Modest Needs?

[mrscompgeek]

Can you maybe cut out some other bills that arent as important for now? Like do you have Internet or Satellite or Phone?? Maybe you could cut out those for a month of so until you get back on top of things?
Also, I have to agree with OP's when they say that your risking the chance of pipes freezing and busting which will cause you to end up spending more money repairing those in months to follow. KWIM?
Another thought is if your child with Asthma or you being pregnant would get really sick from being without electricity and end up in the hospital are you prepared to pay that? In the long run you may be better off to try to find the money for the electricity right now.

[CarrieMF]

I don't see a problem with this providing that your kids can sleep in a room that is over 62 degrees.

We sleep at 59degrees in our house, our daytime temp in our house is only 64.

to the OP, is it cold enough to place food outside? I'm quite a bit north of Ohio & we're having an unseasonably warm late fall & there's no way it'd be cold enough outside for food or anything. We don't have any snow yet either.

[primjillie]

Isn't there any way to make some money? A part time job? A lot of companies hire Christmas help even with this ecomony. Selling items through Craiglist or a yard sale? Pawning jewelry? I think I would seriously work at making some extra money to pay this bill. Do you rent or buy? Can you defer your house payment/rent for a month?

[A&A]

Originally Posted by Belleweather

Um. In most states where it gets actually cold it is illegal to turn someone's heat off between November and April.

It depends on the state.

Here (in Utah) people can donate extra money on their bill to help cover other people who can't pay the bill. So check with your electric company to see if they have a similar program.

[gurumama]

Cold air can trigger asthma.

Particles and smoke from fireplace fires can trigger asthma as well.

Your pipes may burst. if you're a renter, you're then legally liable for the repair costs, could be evicted and then sued for the repair costs. If you're an owner, of course, you are responsble to yourself.

Here's the Ohio public utilities assistance page: https://www.puc.state.oh.us/PUCO/Con...on.cfm?id=4062

[A&A]

Originally Posted by Tradd

Please make sure your fireplace is able to stand a big roaring fire. I've heard this recently on a home improvement radio talk show. Many fireplaces are only meant for wee little fires for "atmosphere," not big roaring fires to keep warm by. A too big/too hot fire could cause damage to the firebox or the chimney.

And can cause carbon monoxide if it's not vented properly.

[baileyandmikey]

Our fire place is fine, chimney is clean, we use it daily.... and have battery operated carbon monoxide detectors in two places in our home. I am going to call on Monday and see if I can get an extra few days, not that that will really help... but we will see. We do have internet access, but my dh takes online classes, and therefore it was paid up front for the year with his tuition. We live frugally.... don't spend money on unneccessary crap, just things are bad right now. If I try to find a job... which I have been looking, I would have to pay out for daycare... and that would eat up most of the money. Really, We are out in the country, with neighbors spaced pretty far apart, and I don't think anyone would call cps on us. Anyways, sorry I started this. Thanks for the advice, I just wondered if anyone else had done it before.

[primjillie]

Would you have hot water? I think most water heaters have electric starters, so I know ours wouldn't work. I wouldn't think your phone would work either - would that be a problem living out in the country? If your husband's work hours are cut, could he find a second job or could you work opposite hours? Every little bit could help. Besides food and shelter, I think an electric bill would rank pretty high on my list before paying other bills. I hope you find a way to keep it on.

[dubfam]

I understand that this thread might be making you feel more stressed out and hopeless about your situation. I am sorry. I know everyone here is just trying to help you think about this realistically and give you advice, but that may not be what you need right now.

Have you tried posting in "living off the grid"?
I know there are people there living without elec and they may be able to give you some good ideas.

I really hope you can get this figured out.

One last thing...you should REALLY try the Holiday Helpers.
http://www.shesdreamingindigital.com/holidayhelper/
There are AMAZING miracles happening for lots of MDC families through the holiday helpers. There are people who need a lot more than just help paying an electric bill, and they have received it. I know I would donate to help you pay this bill if you were on the list. I have needed help keeping my electricity on before and I know how stressful it is

[Drummer's Wife]

another thing to consider is that a shut-off will end up costing you more in the long run, most companies charge a big disconnect/re-connect fee and possibly a deposit to have service reinstated. It could be $500 extra to come up on top of your past due before you ever got it back on. Also, if you are renting your landlord may be notified and often leases state in fine print that you cannot get utilities disconnected.

The CPS concern is not so much your neighbors but your child who goes to school. That alone would make me do whatever necessary to not go w/out electricity.

I'd skip out on rent/mortgage for a month, get a payday loan, sell the computer/tv/diapers anything I could, spend the grocery money on utilites and stand in line at a food bank, etc. before going more than one day without electricity.

I hope you figure out a solution.

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by baileyandmikey

Anyways, sorry I started this. Thanks for the advice, I just wondered if anyone else had done it before.

Don't be sorry you started this thread, sounds like you are in a jam and need to get ideas. I do agree with others who have stated you should call the light company again, its been my experience in several states that you can generally stave off a disconnection by calling and getting on a payment plan. Also like others have said winter disconnects are not that common especially where you are pregnant and have small kids.

Shay

[amyamanda]

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} OP. I am surprised at the tone of some of these responses. Yes, I believe you can do it. I think if it is really the best choice for your family right now, you'll do what you need to do and it will be fine.

I am going to assume that your furnace requires some electricity to run, and possibly your hot water heater. If you can find a way from keeping them from shutting it off (I'd talk to your midwife/doctor and ask for their medical support for asking the power company not to turn it off while you find a way to pay), I would start living right now like you have no electricity - except for the heat and possibly the hot water, if your water heater is electric. I would keep the hot water turned as low as you can and use cold for everything you possibly can (conserve the hot). I would unplug EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE - anything might draw a phantom current and/or tempt you to use it.

I am not good with the math, but you might see what it would cost to use one lightbulb at night as needed instead of candles or oil lamps, both of which can get expensive and don't give great light. I would do a similar comparison for grill fuel vs. electric stove vs. crockpot.

This is all if you can keep it turned on. If not, and if they do shut it off, keep your chin up and do what you can to find a way to pay it off and restart your service. There are more people out there doing this than probably anyone who is blessed enough to have online access even realizes. There are going to be more people in your shoes as time goes on.

You'll get through this. You are strong and this challenge is temporary. Good luck.

[dubfam]

Originally Posted by amyamanda

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} OP. I am surprised at the tone of some of these responses. Yes, I believe you can do it. I think if it is really the best choice for your family right now, you'll do what you need to do and it will be fine.

I am going to assume that your furnace requires some electricity to run, and possibly your hot water heater. If you can find a way from keeping them from shutting it off (I'd talk to your midwife/doctor and ask for their medical support for asking the power company not to turn it off while you find a way to pay), I would start living right now like you have no electricity - except for the heat and possibly the hot water, if your water heater is electric. I would keep the hot water turned as low as you can and use cold for everything you possibly can (conserve the hot). I would unplug EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE - anything might draw a phantom current and/or tempt you to use it.

I am not good with the math, but you might see what it would cost to use one lightbulb at night as needed instead of candles or oil lamps, both of which can get expensive and don't give great light. I would do a similar comparison for grill fuel vs. electric stove vs. crockpot.

This is all if you can keep it turned on. If not, and if they do shut it off, keep your chin up and do what you can to find a way to pay it off and restart your service. There are more people out there doing this than probably anyone who is blessed enough to have online access even realizes. There are going to be more people in your shoes as time goes on.

You'll get through this. You are strong and this challenge is temporary. Good luck.

[Jilian]

I'm sorry mama, I hope there is a way to keep the electricity on for you. Do you have cash assistance in your state? Our state has medicaid/cash assistance for those in financial distress. Do you have anything you can sell online to make the money? Sorry I don't have much advice to offer on living without electricity.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by amyamanda

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} OP. I am surprised at the tone of some of these responses. Yes, I believe you can do it. I think if it is really the best choice for your family right now, you'll do what you need to do and it will be fine.

I apologize if my tone has came across wrong, it's just that I HAVE had my electricity cut off due to non-payment and it's not just the lights and appliances you lose, obviously. I do not think you are necessarily at risk of say dying if your power gets disconnected but in your families situation, it could definitely impact your health. I also mentioned the CPS concern again, because I have BTDT over a 24 hr disconnect. In fact, we came up with the money just hours after our power was cut and it took them until the next day to re-connect... so I'm not talking about days without power triggering concern from well meaning teachers.

So sorry. my whole point was that I would do whatever I could short of robbing a bank, to not have this happen. Sure, people live without electricity or gas or water and surely w/out much food but it just not as easy as lighting some candles and putting food in coolers to get by. I have not read the off the grid or whatever section on MDC but I would assume most people with small children at least have a generator for power. It's not really feasible to assume you would be okay for more than a couple of days (without much planning and expensive supplies) and that amount of time is not worth all the hassle it could entail (mainly the extra money tacked on to get it turned back on)

to the OP and anyone else facing this situation.

[Usually Curious]

Water is way more important than electricity. I agree with you that electric is one of the first 'necessities' that you could live without.

Does your fireplace have an insert? That will help with efficiency. If not, maybe you could bend a piece of sheet metal and put it in the back of the fireplace to reflect some of the heat.

Also, do you have a friend you could borrow a generator from to run a few things on occasionally, if needed. A gallon of gas would surely be cheaper than a month's worth of electricity.

Good luck, Mama. I am so sorry you're in this situation and I pray that it will resolve itself quickly and in your favor!