Letter to the Editor:
As an individual who works alongside low-income families every day, I’m writing in regard to the community of Olive Hill and the citizens of Kentucky. It has come to my attention that the City of Olive Hill Utilities are taking action and are starting to shut off utilities of those who have unpaid utility bills. While I understand there are consequences to actions, I am more concerned for the children or even elderly individuals that classify as low-income, that I actively help serve through my employer and church, who struggle to make ends meet. It is currently only 24 degrees on November 28th, 2023, and as I bundle my kids up in their coats, hats, and gloves to send them off to school, I could not stay silent and had to speak up for the children and individuals who are suffering due to consequences out of their control. I have done extensive research on seasonal termination regulations and the state of Kentucky currently has no protection date regulations and no temperature based safety regulations in regard to shutting off utilities. This is surprising to me, especially since it should be known that Eastern Kentucky homes a lot of our low income families and children. In some states in the United States, if the temperatures reach below 32 degrees or above 95/105 degrees, utilities cannot be disconnected. The only regulation the state of Kentucky has is:
“Customers may negotiate a payment plan with the company for reconnection during the months of November through March if they are “income qualified” for certain public assistance programs and if they secure and present an official ‘Certificate of Need’ from the state social services office. Delay disconnect for 30 days with medical certification. Customer must negotiate a payment plan to maintain service after the delay (information gathered from liheapch.acf.hhs.gov).”
Eastern Kentucky (Martin County, KY) was where the “War on Poverty” in 1964 was started by President Johnson and continues still in 2023. My hope, or request, is there is consideration in making protection regulations so that our low income families and children do not have to go without heat and utilities in the winter or air conditioning and utilities in the summer. My other hope is that the City of Olive Hill Utilities will take this information into consideration and have compassion for those considered “least of these” in our community. I am aware of LIHEAP programs, but even their funds are limited. I am aware of payment plans, but I have witnessed single parents, two working parents, and elderly families work hard to make ends meet and they simply cannot due to inflation or other financial hardships. I am also aware that families eventually have to build a sense of strong self-reliance, and thankfully we have programs in place that can help them start that process, but sometimes it is still not enough. Federal and State dollars can only go so far. Water, heat and electricity are essentials. My hope and prayer is that you take these concerns into consideration.
In Matthew 25:42-46 it says: “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. ‘They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me’. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life”.
Thank you,
An anonymous concerned citizen
