The New England Gas Company has been shutting off heat to people who are not able to pay their gas bills. Sign here to stop this immoral practice.
END HEATING SHUTOFFS
Between November and January 05-06, New England Gas has, at the highest rate in nine years, performed the aggressive tactic of shutting off heat to citizens who cannot affors to pay their gas bills. "This is inhumane," says Mabel Martinez, an asthmatic, whose son (also an asthmatic), and she, could not cook, shower or even sleep under the cold conditions, and had to relocate at other people's houses until their heating was restored after receiving an emergency voucher.
This winter has seen 1,024 utility shutoffs- 53% more than the last winter. The people who are poor or cannot find jobs are being punished in a way that would seem inhumane to the rest of the country.. Elia Germani, chairman of the Public Utilities Comission, responded that he didn't think it was wrong to shut off gas to people who could not afford it. "No matter how I answer the question, it's going to sound insensitive." Why do you think that is? It IS insensitive to deny comfortable living to, and possibly endanger the health of people who have so terribly inconvenienced the heating companies by asking them to spare saving some money to help them. Sign this petition to tell the companies what you think of this practice.
