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Is it illegal to shut off water and electricity with an infant in the house? How do i set it up?

I have a 2 1/2 week old infant and I am struggling with the bills right now. I have been told that it is illegal to shut off water or electricity with an infant. Is that true? How do I go about setting it up, if it is true? Please help. Im desperate

Public Comments

1. not true....sorry
if you dont pay your bill they will cut it off

2. this is not true. you need to ring the bill companies and ask for a plan to pay your bills as you are struggling and have a baby. take care

3. I have never heard of that, well...at least not in the rough and tough city of Portland, OR. I remember hearing about an elderly man getting his power shut off in the dead of the Iowa winter last year...and he froze to death, and he was a U.S. Veteran. Most companies see profit & could not give a rat about your circumstances.

I would call the companies A.S.A.P and see if you qualify for a aid program, most/if not all offer them. But, you need to communicate with them or they WILL shut it off.

4. It's illegal to cut of water regardless of there being an infant or not. (where I live)
Not for electricity though.

EDIT*Ok well where I live there is NO chance of someone freezing to death, we have the air con on in winter, but people are always getting dehydrated, and this man died a while (like 10 years) ago and it's ben like that since

5. It's illegal in some places to turn off heat in the winter if there are children in the home, but this is August. Call the companies and try to set up a payment plan.

6. doesn't matter they will cut you off.
there are exceptions if its dead cold winter and the temp has hit a certain number they can't shut you off.
call your electric company and set up payment arrangements.
There are times we have struggled and we just call and let them know and set up a time we can make our payments.
they are usually willing to work with you but you have to call them

7. It's not illegal, sorry. Those companies do not care if there are children in the house or not. If you cannot pay your bills they have the right to shut off your water, electricity, whatever.

You can call up each company and tell them you're having some problems with the payments. Some will set up a payment plan with you until you can get back on your feet and get things figured out.

8. this sounds mean but all they are thinking is o well its not there problem. they turn the electric off on the old all the time. there has to be a way you could get help there. unless where you live is different i think they can shut it off. i know that my father was renting a house to a family with a sick child and they cute it off because the did not pay the bill.

9. Contact your local United Way at 211. It is the "emergency" number for social services. They will point you in the right direction to get assistance.

10. I think this only applies to the winter months and they can't shut any ones heat/electric off. this is how it is in WI anyways. In WI we have this program called Energy Assistance that will help pay for part of your bill but that's usual open around spring. We also have Emergency Energy Assistance and that might help you. I would google that phrase with your sate name.

11. I never heard of that...and they shut off my water and gas here before even though I theres an infant in the home but they didn't know that I guess. I dont know I wouldnt think its illegal but I cant be sure. You coudl always apply and get help with utility bills and he. You could call social services and ask them

12. go aplly for emergancy services at your HRA office and i know some churches help out too in emergancies only

13. Call 211 and tell them your situation. There are programs to help. I hope things get better for you.

14. No that isn't true they are not legally obligated to keep your water or electricity on bc you have a baby if you do not pay your bill. Most electric companies do have a policy where they choose not to shut off someone's electricity during the winter months if that is your heat source.

Call your local trustee or community action program. Sometimes there are local churches that will help too.