Utilities 101

This post will finally catch the blog up to present time and after this I'll likely be making a new post every week or so.

I think I mentioned in my previous post that Tom had been working hard in the days after our closing to get the utilities turned on in the building. He had quick success getting the power restored and the water service is ready to go as soon as we're ready but the gas company is being not so cooperative. As Brandie said after overhearing Tom rant on the phone . . . "Man, do they have him PISSED!" LOL No big surprise considering the state of utility service today. I'll likely upset a lot of meter readers and service repairmen out there upset but the whole 'window' appointment idea needs to be scrapped. Or at least the utilities need to play by the rules.

I understand they can't predict how long a given job may take and so can't give a set time but it also doesn't seem right to spend a huge chunk of the day waiting on them. Tom had an appointment set for last Wednesday between 12:30pm and 4:00pm. He took half a day off work to be there with them and also provided his cell phone number in case they arrived early. Instead he arrived promptly at 12:30 to find a note on the door stating the utility company had been there at 12:40 and found no one there and no one answered the phone number given so they left. A call to the gas company confirmed all this and they refused to send the service man back out even though Tom pointed out that he was there on time and had received no phone call since they'd called the wrong number. Requests to speak with a supervisor were refused and the implied threat was that he either accept a return appointment the next week or he could do without gas service. Now Tom's not loud or pushy and doesn't often get upset. It's not like he called them to yell and scream, only to straighten out a problem in which they were not only early but hadn't done as arranged. Instead they got snarky and threatening with him. And as further punishment they won't set a 'window' for the appointment but have him on call all day for when it's convenient for them to show up. Hmmm . . . ya know, I swear the gas company works for us, not the other way around. I mean, isn't that what we pay them for? And given the economy it doesn't seem wise for any company to irritate a potential customer.

So, we're still sitting there freezing. Tom can't turn on the water because it would just freeze, of course, and even hauling trash is difficult in the cold, not to mention no potty LOL We spent the weekend muttering about switching to all electric or at least a different gas supplier which made us feel better but is pretty impotent realistically. I also got a basic education in water service and we're looking at a few projects there. The incoming water line appears to be much too small for the building in general let alone a building with several apartments. Think about flushing while showering times three and you'll get the idea LOL Me being naive about it all, I thought it was just a matter of replacing the pipe but noooooooo . . . it involves digging and heavy machinery and a whole lot of fees. The water meter, main valve and line will have to be moved, wholes knocked in the foundation for piping and the sidewalk broken up for trenching. Technically we could leave it as it is. It's not against the building code or anything and it's not a hazard. I can't see though as it would be very nice to live in a place with little water pressure although many landlords provide little better. I'm thinking this is where the pagan attitude comes in though. It might not be 'necessary' but it's 'needed' and the right way of doing things. I don't expect to be piddled on by my shower and don't want my future tenants living that way LOL Seems like come spring, between the roof, the well and the water, we'll have a lot of adventures to share!

Hopefully by the next post things will be getting toasty warm inside, or at least above freezing, and we'll move on to the next ripple LOL