When you are pregnant can a company legally turn off the electricity?

Question

I've heard there is a federal law that mandates a comany to keep electricity on when you are pregnant or have up to a 1 year old in your house.

i've heard it was a law that you cannot get power turned off if you are pregnant and so any of you rude mother f'ers i dont ask you to judge me so GO **** YOURSELF. until you know a situation get the **** over it and i just asked a simple question of something i heard ok

Answer 1

I worked for a power company and this is categorically false.

There are programs in effect to try and help people keep their power on or get it back called "hardship reconnects" and things of that nature...but it still supplies that the bill itself must be brought current within a certain time frame.

Legally, the company can turn off your power if you are behind, no matter your pregnancy status. The only people exempt from this are those who are listed as medical necessity, and even then there are processes in order so that if they do not pay their bill consistantly they can be taken to court over it. Federal law states that electricity that is used must be paid for. By the way, breathing treatments for asthma do not count as medical necessity, not when the child can be taken to a neighbor's or a family member's and have the treatment. Someone who is on life support at home does not have the mobility option.

Answer 2

I have never heard of this law and am unsure where you may have heard it from. You can call the electric company and make a payment arrangement with them and you can also ask them for low income assistance. They can at least direct you to the proper agency to apply for assistance with your electric bill.
I have heard that the state will pay your bill one time a year if you qualify for the assistance. It sounds like you have little time left so you need to get on the phone with the power company tomorrow morning, first thing! Will your parents give you a one time gift of catching the bill up for you while you get this assistance rolling?
Good luck.

Answer 3

They only cannot turn off the electricity if there is a person in the home who requires equipment to sustain life. And even then there is a lengthy process to have service maintained. Having a child does not exempt you from paying bills.. Electricity is considered a luxury and not necessity.

Answer 4

I've heard of a number of laws like that one. NONE of them have ever been introduced into Congress, let alone actually signed into law. There MAY be a state law similar to the one your describe, but I doubt it states what you heard either.

jade_calliope gave the answer I thought was correct. I just didn't have a source.

Answer 5

Nope, there's no such law. Usually if your home is connected to the same circuit as a hospital, then they won't turn off the electricity if it's a planned outage. But an unplanned outage can happen anywhere.

Answer 6

Never heard of that one. They usually try to do everything they can not to turn it off. Have you tried talking with them? Or better yet, sending some money?