May 16, 2008 6:02 pm US/Pacific
Heat Wave Puts Financial Pinch On Local Families
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
People are rushing to paying up in order to keep utilities on as we head in to triple digits.
Greg Ungareti is facing a shutoff.
"What we do is pay a little here, pay a little there. Sometimes we get the 15-day notice and that's where we are now," said Greg.
Shut off notices are forcing families to juggle finances so air conditioners and fans stay on through the early heat wave. Families blame getting behind on the economic downturn. While PG&E is not seeing a spike in shutoff notices, it says customer service representatives offer payment plans before shutting off power.
Some people admit that rent, gas, and food come first . But now that it's hot, utilities are getting closer to the top of the list.
"When the heat waves last a couple of weeks, paying our PG&E [bill] is an urgency for our family anyway" says Greg.
Others are finding creative ways to make late payments.
Patrick Maharaj says he uses his tax refund cash to say cool.
"I got a refund from lasts year and mine was a little higher so i had the money to pay now," said Patrick.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
