What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? I live in California. The city I live in has some strange laws involving our municipal utility company. For instance, every Friday our utility company will compile a list of all customers who have had their electricity shut off. They send this list to the city building inspectors. The inspectors will then go out and red tag the home for immediate abatement claiming it's unfit to live in. They also notify the landlord that he will get a $1000 per day fine if he allows the tenant to continue living there w/o electricity.
Another strange law. All adults in your home must be on your utility bill.
So here is a possible scenario. Adult child gets their utilities shut off. They are abated from their home and forced to move in with their parents. Parents must now list adult child on their utilities. When this is done, the adult child's past due/unpaid bill is attached to the parent's account.
Another thing that recently happened and was in our local newspaper. Elderly woman cosigns for a friend's account. Friend skips out, cosigner now owes. Electricity company attaches bad account to elderly woman's utility account. She could not afford to pay. Utilities almost shut off until local charity paid all past due plus massive security deposit.
Sure they have ordinances for this but are they legal?
Things the public has tried: City Council. Had lots of meetings. Made changes. They took the changes back within a few months.
Went to the Grand Jury. Grand Jury made recommendations. City ignored them.
So, how do I know if a law is valid? It can't be true that local gov't can make any laws they want?
Another strange law. All adults in your home must be on your utility bill.
So here is a possible scenario. Adult child gets their utilities shut off. They are abated from their home and forced to move in with their parents. Parents must now list adult child on their utilities. When this is done, the adult child's past due/unpaid bill is attached to the parent's account.
Another thing that recently happened and was in our local newspaper. Elderly woman cosigns for a friend's account. Friend skips out, cosigner now owes. Electricity company attaches bad account to elderly woman's utility account. She could not afford to pay. Utilities almost shut off until local charity paid all past due plus massive security deposit.
Sure they have ordinances for this but are they legal?
Things the public has tried: City Council. Had lots of meetings. Made changes. They took the changes back within a few months.
Went to the Grand Jury. Grand Jury made recommendations. City ignored them.
So, how do I know if a law is valid? It can't be true that local gov't can make any laws they want?
