Utility customer says he made no threats over alleged unpaid bill

STAFF REPORT

Thursday, May 26,  2011, 12:30 p.m. — Robert Anderson said that he was surprised to hear news reports today regarding  a customer threatening a Salt River Electric utility representative who was there to disconnect his power — surprised, because he realized he was the customer being discussed.

The Nelson County Gazette reported the incident Wednesday after police were dispatched to Anderson’s home as well as the Salt River offices on West Brashear Avenue.

In an interview this morning with the Nelson County Gazette, Anderson said he never made threats against anyone when the utility representative came to his Lutes Lane residence. He said he had just paid his overdue utility bill that Salt River’s representative was there to either collect the balalnce or disconnect his electric on Tuesday.

Anderson said he tried to explain his recent payment to the utility representative, “but he didn’t want to listen.” At one point, Anderson said he told the representative to “leave and don’t come back without proof (of the bill) and the sheriff.”

Anderson said he didn’t threaten the Salt River employee, nor did he threaten anyone at the business office on West Brashear Avenue in Bardstown. When police showed up at his home responding to the call, “I went ahead and paid the bill — for the second time.”

Anderson said he plans to meet with Salt River officials to discuss the matter.

That’s exactly what customers should do when they have questions, according to Randy Burba, Salt River Electric’s vice-president of customer service.

“Customers who have questions about their bill can come in and we’ll explain the charges to them,” he said. “We have a great staff who will break it down for them.”

Salt River works with customers who struggle to keep their utility bills paid, he said. The utility can enter into payment agreements with customers to break a utility bill into more than one payment if that can help. “We try to work with people and do as much as we can when they’re facing disconnection,” Burba said.

He recommended that anytime Salt River customers have a question about a bill or payment to contact their customer service representatives at (502) 348-3931.

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