Piedmont Natural Gas Company review: Unethical disconnects

Piedmont Gas is the WORST utility company in NC. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with them, as it is the ONLY resource to provide heat in the property I am renting. They consistently turn off my gas at any chance, and despite being in the 21st century, and owned by Duke Electric (who gives text alerts) they can’t seem to bring themselves into modern communication. Today is Nov 5, my gas has been disconnected, again (conveniently as soon as the temp drops). I am going through my mail that I collected this weekend, and have a disconnect notice they sent me, dated (pre mailing, mind you) on Oct 29. I think I received it on Saturday, and am opening it within a couple of days like a normal person….and it threatens disconnect for today. That’s a week from when they printed it, minus the mail time. The worst part is that I deposited like 5K into the account at the end of last winter, to avoid this happening. How it’s possible to have gone through that much gas, is beyond me…but the rates are insane.

How is it legal that these crooks are able to cut my heat without fair warning? Why can’t they get a system of texting or emailing before they disconnect? How is this not a human right of decency to keep a home heated? I have NEVER seen this level of predatory business practice for a necessary utility, especially one that I have literally given tens of thousands of dollars to over the course of this forced, unchallengeable relationship. What happened to capitalism and options for who to service you? If they are the ONLY option, someone in government needs to control their horrible customer service. It’s despicable….they are shameful.