Austin Energy To Collect Legal Fees From Suburban Customers

1. Screen shots from Austin-American Statesman
2. Consumer/Financial
3. Local level
4. A problem/issue that families/individuals face
5. For those affected, this issue concerns consumers budget. Also, this issue should be addressed by individuals in the Austin area in order to decide whether they support or they oppose the Austin Energy Company.
6. Austin Energy Company made a bad move charging suburban customers to pay for legal fees. Part of running a company includes retaining lawyers for appeals such as this one. The company should not penalize customers for making a genuine appeal on increased charges. Consumers should be able to express their concerns on the services they are receiving. Consumers should not be charged for the supplies the company they are appealing purchases to purchase in order to make an argument. Is Austin Energy paying the consumers for the time and money they used to make the appeal in the first place? I don't think so. Doctors have malpractice insurance for when patients disagree with the services they provide. Austin Energy should have retained lawyers for the poor decisions they made.

Consumers have the right to appeal the services they receive. I was taught in elementry school the system of checks and balances. The citizens of Austin are checking and balancing the acts and the decisions of Austin Energy. And, the citizens should not be punished for expressing their concerns about the business. I feel it is common for citizens to feel overpowered by the government. And, I feel it comes from situations such as this one where the government seems to have control over the entire outcome. It seems as though Austin Energy customers are being charged for their opinion. The decisions discourage the right to appeal a government company.

I live in Leander, Texas. Therefore, I am not affected by this action whatsoever. However, I am angered at the privileged attitude Austin Energy is expressing towards the community. If this issue were happening to me, I’d hope that others, affected or not, would stand up and help spread the word of wrongdoings.