(((((((((Monty_girl))))))).....fellow kentuckian,

Debbie, so sorry to hear about the hard situation your in. I completely understand. I've been out of work for 2 years now and just recently started getting disability. But not before I lost everything and filed for bankruptcy. If it wasn't for family buying us food and paying our electric over this last year we wouldn't of made it.

What a rough 2 years it has been for you....glad you are on disability now.....it definitely helps.....I have been on disability since 1994....it helps, but definitely isn't like having a career......but that isn't an option now. Glad you family is there to help you with the food & electric....those 2 things are the worst....I have cut my food bill back to make sure my dogs are ok.....but we are both on the hot dog/ ketchup soup diet (not really that bad honestly)

Have you talked to the electric company about paying part of your bill? Our's down here let us make payments. One month of our electric bill was over $300 for just one month. You can also get them to set your electric bill to one price if you had them for a year. They like average your bill out over a year so you don't get hugh bills.

Have talked to the electric company...they are complete jerks Had to tell them I would have to rob a bank to pay the money they wanted before they would listen. Have since talked to the public utilities commission. The bad compressor caused me to have to use the emergency heating part of the unit as it was all that was working. First month....$703....second month $684, third month $502, fourth month $408....while the jerk wouldn't install the compressor....first excuse....sent out the wrong one...then on back order.....then it was too cold & couldn't install it or it would ruin the sweat in the line from the welding would damage the compressor....then the ice storm.....then the hurt back, then the neice died of cancer, then another family member died, then he was sick.....on & on & on.....finally applied more force & got more stupid maneuvers.....ready to let him have it by then & it only got worse from that.

Is it your heating unit that got jacked up? If you have to get it replaced our friends heat pump went out on them and since they were low income the electric company had a program that replaced their pump and they make small payments on their electric bill for the new unit. The pumps are great I love them. Heat in the winter and AC in the summer which you know is a must have in Kentucky.
It was a brand new unit he was supposed to be installing....will see what the inspector has to say when I get them out here.

Trying to think of other things that could help you. You know to talk to the Community Action in your area, they also do weatherization to your house to help cut down on your energy bills. If your low income you qualify for that as well. They do insulation and seal up cracks around your windows, things like that.

Yes, went to community action just found out about them from a neighbor a few weeks ago....I do just qualify for the weatherization program & will get on that as soon as I get through this mess....that is a wonderful program....had heard about in on the radio & never thought I would qualify, but community action told me & I do.....sadly, their financial support for winter electric bills ended in March....out of luck there on that

http://kaca.org/WhatWeDo/EnergyAssis...6/Default.aspx

I wasn't sure of the county you live in, so I just have the list. Contact them and talk to them about your situation. If you know ahead of time which programs you may need you'll get help faster. People just tend to help you for the things you ask about and don't tell everything you may qualify for.
http://kaca.org/Agencies/AgencyList/...2/Default.aspx

I hope this helps. I'm not able to make a donation, but I can donation my time. And if all else fells, I have an extra room.

Thank you for the links....I have already poked around the community action one but they have led me to other ideas....thinking about contacting my congressman to see if he knows of any help anywhere on any part of my situation. Also might help with our whole area's too high electric bill problem.....everyone had bills that were way to high all winter....over $100 higher each month than the other electric companies bills around here....something wrong there.

Want to let you know how much I appreciate your support, the links & the time you have spent looking into ideas that can help......your help is very much appreciated....being new here to KY....all this stuff is so new & until just a few weeks ago, had no idea where to turn for help (never needed help before so it's a strange feeling in the first place). Your donation of time & ideas is very valuable & very much appreciated.

Hopefully I won't need a room.....have too many rooms as it is in the house....thank heavens I have a basement....we may all (me & my 6 doggies) end up in the basement for cool this summer until I get the unit completely fixed.


Debbie