Woman concerned medical devices won’t work if power is shut off.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Monday, disconnections will have started out for JEA buyers with overdue and late payment notices. 

Right now there are approximately 5,000 customers who are in hazard of getting their electric power disconnected. Previously, that amount was much more than 40,000. 

Like tens of thousands of men and women in our region, a historical past of late or overdue payments means that Terri Stephens is in threat of acquiring her energy disconnected on Monday. For Stephens this concern is actually lifetime or death.

The most critical matters in her everyday living are on one table, her health-related devices and shots of her grandkids. Terri Stephens is disabled and participated in a snooze study that established she stops respiratory 6 to 7 periods each individual night.

“I could not endure,” claimed Stephens, “I couldn’t endure devoid of the bronchial asthma equipment and the COPD equipment at night. I have to use that when I go to slumber, if I you should not have that my breath will be cut off.”

In portion, due to the fact she relies on clinical equipment that operate on electric power, Stephens currently owes JEA $642. Admittedly, she hasn’t compensated her invoice in far more than a few months and can’t get an extension.

“If I experienced the funds to do a payment, I would pay out my monthly bill,” explained Stephens. “I talked to them (JEA) nowadays, they ain’t holding almost nothing back, they are heading to begin chopping lights on Monday.”

Though, ailments in her apartment also call for her to maintain the air conditioner heading at all occasions.

“I have to preserve my air on in right here simply because there is certainly some type of mildew or mildew in in this article that messes with my asthma,” reported Stephens. “That is the motive why it is higher.”

Before she got sick her life was heading in the right course, Stephens was on the Dean’s Listing at UNF. She went again to faculty as a assure to her mother soon after dropping out more than 25 yrs before when she was expecting with her son

“When I went back again I was actually into it, I held making A’s and B’s just about every semester, I would like I could use this,” stated Stephens as she seems to be at her Dean’s Record certificate.

But now the 55-12 months-previous with a diploma in Overall health Treatment Administration is ready to see if her lights and her health-related gadgets will be turned off.

But will JEA reduce off ability to anyone with a healthcare predicament like Stephens?

Which is a concern we introduced immediately to JEA. The utility firm’s response is: 

JEA Clinical Alerts are out there to customers who have to have clinical machines at dwelling. This warn means that in the party of a disconnection for nonpayment, a JEA worker will make an excess try to make get hold of so that clients can make a payment, credit history arrangement, or come across alternate treatment options. This does not avert disconnection for non-payment of utility solutions. If the JEA worker cannot achieve a person at the property, a door hanger will be remaining signifying we attempted to notify the customer of the pending disconnection.

If the consumer is disconnected, JEA reconnects support on the exact same day if payment is made ahead of 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

JEA will start off disconnecting client power on Monday and will begin with these who have overdue bills courting back again the furthest. 5 times just after electricity is shut off JEA will then shut off drinking water if overdue payments are not paid.

If you are intrigued in serving to Stephens, you can electronic mail Abundant Donnelly at [email protected].

JEA prospects can log into their accounts to ask for an extension or payment approach 24-hours a working day, by Sunday at midnight.

Associated: With thousands going through utility shutoffs, JEA solutions issues in advance of ‘grace period’ ending Sunday

Related: Ways to enable your neighbor just before their electricity is disconnected