ALBANY, Ga. (AP) - Some residents are asking southwest Georgia’s largest city for more relief on utility bills.
A group called the 9 to 5 Organization is petitioning Albany Utilities to suspend payments until October, plus meet other demands. The city-owned utility had suspended disconnections at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been asking customers to pay again since June 1.
Albany Utilities provides electric, natural gas, water, sewer and trash pickup services.
“They cant afford to buy groceries, pay their rent and pay their light bills. You have families that have lost jobs and have their kids 24/7.,” said Nikki Owens, a member of the group, tells WALB-TV.
The city utility says it has worked on ways to help customers while still collecting revenue in recent months.
The United Way is offering utility assistance, but a $200,000 assistance fund set up by the city in April and administered by a nonprofit group has run out.
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