INDIANAPOLIS — This week marks the coldest temperatures central Indiana has seen since last winter.
For Tim Snyder, a common slip-up many people have been guilty of left him and his family without heat in their home to face these freezing temps.
"Today was a complete surprise. My wife called me and said, 'Hey, did you pay the water and gas bill?' I said, 'Yes, it's on auto-pay.' and she said, 'Well it's all turned off,'" Snyder said.
After calling Citizens Energy, Snyder realized the autopay he thought he set up over the summer was not working.
"Turns out it's not coming out. I missed the last two months of my bill," he said.
Knowing the cold weather was supposed to set in, Snyder wanted to get his account back in good standing as quickly as possible.
"I paid a deposit (and) a reconnection fee. I paid off my entire bill and then I was like, 'Alright, when are you going to be out?' and they said, 'Tomorrow and we don't know what time,'" Snyder said.
RELATED | Winter Disconnection Moratorium FAQ
Despite paying $550, Snyder realized he would be without heat in his home and started making plans to stay elsewhere with his wife and kids.
A Citizens Energy spokesperson tells WRTV this is a situation that plays out a lot around this time of the year. Many people willingly choose to have their gas disconnected in the warmer months.
However, once the first sign of winter comes, a flurry of calls comes in from those same people who want it reconnected as soon as possible.
The fact that Snyder could have gas and water restored just a day after it was disconnected is surprising because their employees can only get to so many houses during their workdays, according to a spokesperson.
Snyder says it's a hard lesson to learn, but one he wants to share, hoping others don't end up in a similar situation.
"Part of this is my fault. I should have been checking my bill, but I wish they would have communicated something with me," Snyder said.
He's updating all his preferences and information to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Under Indiana law, utility disconnections cannot happen between December 1 and March 15 if customers are receiving help from federally-funded energy assistance programs.
-
Bike lanes open on New York and Michigan Streets, making it easier to get around
More bike lanes are coming to Indianapolis, making it easier to get around the city. It's a step in the right direction, advocates said; they have been pushing for quite some time.
UPS worker killed in shooting on Indy's northwest side
On Tuesday, IMPD responded to the 5400 block of West 81st Street at around 9:55 p.m. Officers at the scene located a victim suffering from injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
New details emerge in fatal domestic shooting of woman on E. 10th Street
According to IMPD, officers responded to the 3000 block of E. 10th Street on the report of a person shot just before 9:30 p.m.
Plans for Meta data center at Lebanon Leap District advance
On Monday, the Lebanon Planning Commission issued a favorable recommendation for Meta's project, which is expected to occupy 1,500 acres within the Leap District.
