UPDATE: Apartment tenants will not lose utility services after deal reached with owner
Colorado Springs Utilities says it has reached a deal with the owner of Pine Creek Village Apartments that will keep the utilities turned on.
The utility released this statement on May 1, 2014:
“Colorado Springs Utilities has reached an agreement with Resident Management Systems (RMS) that will prevent utility service disconnections at Pine Creek Village Apartments. The April 9 posting is no longer applicable. We greatly appreciate the patience displayed by tenants throughout this process. As a community-owned utility, we understand this situation has been extremely stressful for tenants and we are pleased that the issue has been resolved.“
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Original Report:
Residents of a Colorado Springs apartment complex could lose their utility services in less than a month, even though they have been paying their bills.
Tenants of the Pine Creek Village apartments on Chapman Drive off Murray Boulevard received a letter from Colorado Springs Utilities Wednesday. It said they’re at risk of having their gas, water and wastewater services disconnected because of past-due utility bills.
“That’s ridiculous, we pay our bills every month,” tenant Ann Byram said. “I have a 5-year-old son here, I need these services. I’m disabled. We have to have them. We paid for this.”
The tenants pay property management for all utilities except electricity. It’s management that hasn’t paid CSU. The utility company said the property owes a “considerable amount,” and it’s been going on for “quite some time.”
“They demand that we pay our bills, but in turn, they’re not paying their bills. They’re not keeping up their part of the bargain,” said a tenant who didn’t want her name revealed for fear of repercussions from management.
In its letter, CSU said, “Occupants may avoid discontinuance by paying the next regular bills, not including the past due amounts, in full with cash or certified funds within 30 days of the bill being issued. If you are interested in doing so, please notify Colorado Springs Utilities in writing before the proposed discontinuance date if the occupants want to pay the bill.”
But not all occupants will be able to pay CSU directly, only those living in units that qualify. CSU said tenants should call (719) 448-4800 and they will work with each individual situation.
Property management didn’t want to comment on the situation. Instead, they asked KRDO NewsChannel13 to leave the property. Phone calls to owner Terry Ragan haven’t been returned.
