Group seeks new policy on utilities

Rocky Mount Telegram
Tuesday, September 08, 2009

A citizens group wants the city of Rocky Mount to abolish a policy allowing it to cut off electricity in homes where residents are on life-support machines.

People attending a reunion of the Around the “Y” community on Saturday were asked to sign a petition calling for the action. It also calls for reducing utility bills and stopping the transfer of utility money into the city’s general fund budget.

The petition was distributed by the People’s Assembly Outreach Organizing Committee, which also is addressing other pressing community issues.

“No cut off (of power) for people on life support!,” a flier distributed by the group reads. “Rocky Mount now has a policy of possible cut off of services in 24 hours of persons on life support.”