As Mesa residents continue to experience high temperatures into October, the financial impact of cooling their homes has led to nearly $4 million in unpaid electricity bills.
In a city where temperatures often exceed 100 degrees, many homeowners and renters are facing challenges with high utility bills. According to a report by 12 News, around 1,500 customers of the City of Mesa Utilities are behind on payments, with the total amount owed approximately $3.94 million.
Mesa resident Joseph Amaro, who is faced with monthly electricity bills of approximately $500, is one of the individuals experiencing this challenge. Amaro's financial hardships were compounded after his wife suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, resulting in a loss of income for the family. "It's kind of hard to keep up with everything," Amaro told 12 News. He has received notice that his power could be shut off, but the exact timing remains uncertain.
A grace period, typically in place from June 1 to September 30, prevents the City of Mesa from disconnecting electricity service due to unpaid bills. However, with the recent record-breaking heat, disconnections have been delayed as the spokesperson for the City stated they won't shut off power if temperatures are predicted to reach 95 degrees or above. As for Mesa's policy on payment plans, there is concern among customers like Amaro, who believes more flexible options should be made available. "I just think that it's wrong that they don't have no other option," Amaro said in a statement obtained by 12 News.
Meanwhile, a representative for Mesa Utilities noted that while they do not typically offer payment plans, they encourage customers who are behind or struggling to pay to contact their customer service call center for assistance in finding solutions. Unlike Mesa, other electricity providers in the state such as APS and SRP do offer payment plans and have their own respective grace periods, as reported by Ground News.
This financial situation has led many Mesa households to make difficult decisions while trying to balance the need to keep their homes cool with managing other living expenses.
