CUC cut-off policy catches out injured customer

| 30/10/2014

(CNS): As Grand Cayman’s power provider attempts to clamp down on delinquent bill payers, CUC appears to be giving increasingly less time for late payers to catch-up and not giving much notice when it comes to cutting off their power. A George Town CNS reader, behind on her payments by just two months, was left in the dark last night with a broken leg. Her pleas to CUC, given her inability to get to the office to pay and difficulty stumbling around on crutches in the dark, fell on deaf ears. CUC confirmed that it considers all bills delinquent after three weeks and 30 days after a bill date and customers can be plunged into darkness without warning.

“Customer accounts are due for payment twenty-one days after the bill date and are considered delinquent thereafter,” a spokesperson from CUC told CNS Thursday. “Thirty days after the bill date, if the outstanding balance is greater than $35, the account is subject to disconnection for non-payment.”

The spokesperson said that at present customers receive a disconnection notice on their bills if the previously issued bill remains unpaid, but the power firm is looking at developing an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) call out system, which will dial customers to advise them of a pending disconnection action. This is expected to be in place within the next couple of weeks.

But CUC said that could only work if customers keep their contact information with CUC up to date.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority keeps no figures on the number of people disconnected so there are no publicly available independent statistics that can say how frequently people are losing their power supply or how many families are living without power.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests that the numbers are increasing. With rising fuel costs, the loss of the rebate, the extra duty and the increase in the firm’s base rate, customers are facing ever-growing electricity bills. Although government has made a small duty cut on CUC’s diesel, it does not come into effect until January and is expected to result in just a 4% cut to residential bills.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Local News

About the Author ()

Comments (120)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    I have taken the time to read some comments on here but not all, firstly I would like to enlighten people about a few things.  Firstly CUC has 2 meters the old analog globe meters with the spinning disc in the middle that requires a meter reader to actually come out and read and secondly the more modern digital meters that does not require a meter reader to come out to read, they at CUC can access the info with a few clicks on the computer.  From my understanding CUC does not actually bill you based on usage consumption butrather pro rate your usage on a monthly basis which means as some comments on here suggest being off island an new bills come being in excess of more than 100$ than actually being on island and actually using current. CUC pro rates the bills that's why it's higher when not being used because they see that current isn't being used therefore CUC is losing so that's where greed comes in and u get a pro rated bill that's higher than normal CUC just ain't in the business of losing my friend.  Worldwide prices of fuel have dropped but yet we in cayman aren't seeing any decrease in fuel prices which are 5-6$ a gallon.  My father has placed insulation foam over his concrete on the outside walls of his home,painted his roof with a reflective coating, plus changed out all major appliances to run on propane.  His A/C is always on and on 80 and inside is always cool.  Yet his light bill is always hundreds of dollars.  Long and short CUC is bullshit and greedy an no matter how we gripe and complain nothing is going to change unless everybody boycotts them for a couple months and not use current at all, but can we really go back to the days of oil lamps I seriously doubt it. There are commercial buildings in town that the AC never goes off and  some in some of them have lights on day n night.  CUC is making a shit load of money there is no reason why bills have to be so high. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    CUC offers a paperless service where you receive your invoice by email. Which is great if it actually worked. I have had to contact CUC every month for the past 6 months as my bill doesn't come through. They "re-enter" my details in the system and the next month we go through the same exercise.  I'd go back to paper billing but then I wouldn't receive the bill until after the due date as the postal service is so shockingly slow.  

  3. keeperofthe7keys says:

    if you can't pay 2 months bill , how can you pay 3… she was giving grace.

  4. Caymanian.. says:

    I am hearing alot about Nationalizing.  I think all CUC needs is GOOD COMPETITION!

  5. anonymous says:

    Those of you that were around in the 60's and 70's, should remember the oil lamp. Only use your electricity for your fridge, nothing else. When CUC sees their profit going down, they will then realize that we the people have boycotted their capitalistic actions. At 6pm the water is still warm, take your baths then and take your laptops to a public place and charge up for the night, same with your cell phones, when the battery dies, start the process allover again in the morning. If you don't use it, you won't have to pay for it. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

  6. Anonymous says:

    If you cant pay your bills then its lights out, were all working to pay for our lifestyle

  7. Anonymous says:

    This delinquent non-payer should be named and shamed not made intoa victim.

  8. Anonymous says:

    For goodness sake, nationalise our sole electricity provider. This is absurd.

    • Anonymous says:

      For goodness sake you did'nt know that CUC got a other 25 years to opperate with out compition by our wonderfull goverment , thank our politians say no more , use your lamp , your caboose , and your hot sun to heat your water . i need not say no more .

      • Anonymous says:

        Quit repeating rubbish. CUC just had to complete for the rights to generate power which resulted in us getting the best deal for 24×7 power. What they have is the sole distribution. Do you have thoughts on how to have competition for distribution? Would you like to see dual sets of poles and wires outside your house? Remember power is not cell phone service.

  9. Anonymous says:

    There are always 3 sides to the story. His, hers and the truth which so happen to not have been told. But if people choose to look pitty for themselves in such outlandish ways, the Cayman Islands will never get better. I for one knows the truth (hint hint)

    • Anonymous says:

      My guess is that the truth is pretty much aligned with the CUC side of the story. 

  10. Anonymous says:

    We moved to island, set up electricity account. Wondered after 1st month when we would get a bill -figured oh well they are delayed as its a new account. Then I get 2 mails on a Friday, one with my 1st bill, the second a disconnection warning. Pay the bill on the weekend electronically, on Monday they cut the power off. They did not care it was already paid nor the fact they had just sent me a 1st bill. Charged a $50 reconnection fee to add insult to injury -payable before they would come and reinstate it. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I'll try again : nationalize the sole electicity provider. Anyone out there thinking? If you 'ain't, press "thumbs down", you chump!

      • Anonymous says:

        Anyone who spells "nationalise" with a "z" has insufficient direct experience of how badly state-owned utility suppliers operate in terms of cost and service compared to the private sector.

        • Anonymous says:

          Not quite 'with you' on this one 04:42.

          "Nationalize" with a "z" is a quite acceptable spelling of the word  as shown in the Oxford English Dictionary – although you may also find reference to it being American English or the subject word will read 'Nationalize (also Nationalise) or the like  '…..so I'm not sure what relevance that has to someone's understanding of the operations of state-owned vs private sectors.

      • Anonymous says:

        Nationalize and double its employment and increase costs.

    • Anonymous says:

      This story is more worth people being irate and CUC feeling shame than the article.

  11. Anonymous says:

    and to think the PPM renewed their contract with a fixed rate of profit!!! Insane!!! So tell me again, PPM which i voted for, how are you helping to reduce my cost of living with that? People in the US are paying $3 dollars US a gallon and here we are with and umbrella of gas stations owned by the same entity paying in excess of 6$ with prices varying from station to station. Where are the regulatory bodies that are supposed to protect us from price gouging? this is why people have no respect for the civil service, and when i say civil service i dont mean the guys working out in the sun, drenched in sweat, i mean the bureaucrats Getting Paid in excess of 100K to do nothing.

    If you had to earn your pay like those of us in the private sector you would be living under the mango trees in cardboard boxes!

     

    Cashus

    • Anonymous says:

      Fuel costs are at a 10 year low…everywhere globally, except for here…Why?

  12. Anonymous says:

    “Only 2 months” is actually a very long time to be nonpaying. She was fully incapacitated due to a broken leg??? Excuses, excuses, and more excuses.

    What does CUC making a profit have to do with this woman not paying her bill? They are in business to make profit….they are not a charity. She obviously feels entitled to receive power she is not paying for.

  13. anon. says:

    I'm waiting to hear someone blame a politician or the government. There's always that brilliant poster who somehow manages to establish the connection.

  14. Kadafe says:

    And they were just awarded 25 more years. Thanks CI gov for Granting CUC a  monopoly again for the next 25 years.

  15. Anonymous says:

    If planning requires your house to have electricity then they should be checking the residential communities to see who is without power. But alas they too have no balls to defend anyone just too busy imposing bureacratic redtape on everyone with convoluted policies

  16. Anonymous says:

    I am now on a small Pension and CUC takes approximately 80% of it off me each month – Once the phone Bill comes in – I am done (before food or anything else) .

    I think there should be some sort of consideration for Pensioners who are earning no income and managing on a small Pension – without us having to 'sponge' off Government (which I refuse to do).

    Having said that, the day I cannot afford to pay my Electricity Bill – I will just turn it off myself because it is of no use them offering me a Payment Plan which I could not afford anyway.

    • Anonymous says:

      Re 12.42 posting – obviously the 'thumbs-downers' and the 'lol' either did not read the post or they have no sense …. what is to disagree with ???? Someone is simply stating that the Electricity Bill is so high, they have hardly anything left of their Pension – What's to disagree with there and what's to Laugh at there ??? There but for the Grace of God, go I !!

      OK – everyone's entitled to an opinion (if it IS a true opinion and not someone just pushing the disagree/lol button for the sake of being contrary-which is obviously the case here) but I feel sorry for someone in that position and am just thankful that I am blessed to be able to keep my head above water.

      You'll probably laugh or look down your nose at those people who had to accept free water from the generous citizen who went out of her way to provide it too ?.

      At least 12.42 recognizes that they would prefer to go without Electricity than put themselves in debt or Sponge off the Government  so they are obviously not disagreeing that the lady with 2 months arrears is in the wrong for purposely letting the situation occur ………

      ( Oh ……..  now the Penny dropped – the thumbs downers and the lol are probably disagreeing//laughing because unlike him/her they would be the first to stand a Social Services' Door looking for a hand-out !!. -) 

      Go on now you 'thumb-downers' and lol's – have a field day !

       

      • Anonymous says:

        It is ridiculous. Your electricity bill could only be that high if you are using A/C (and probably excessively) which is luxury and certainly doesn't rank above food. Turn off the A/C; itis not a necessity.  

        • Anonymous says:

          OK. So just leave your windows open and turn off the ac. While you are sleeping you will be robbed!!!! wake-up to NOTHING. Full proof plan that is!

        • Anonymous says:

          Wrong, 12:01 !!!!  My family uses the A/C very little (a couple of hours before Bedtime) and occasionally if a visitor comes …… you obviously have no clue about A/C so I guess you don't have any (or you're not the one who has to pay the Bill for your Family) ,,,, and as 16:03 says – you can't even leave your windows open at night without being robbed or murdered !!

          Wake up and smell the Coffee ! I wish we were back 20-40+ years ago when I could leave the house Doors and windows open and you could pick people up along the road or accept a ride from someone without worrying – but if you think you can, you are living in the past.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sounds like a great diet technique.  Either your house is too large for your means or your AC is way too high.

      • Anonymous says:

        Neither is the case 04.44 – but if you put your thinking cap on for once – 80% of a small Pension equates to about the average Electricity Bill these days !

      • Anony-me says:

        Or you misjudge how firghteningly small many people's pensions are. Cayman has a 'pension problem' and it is growing. This is no different from many other developed nations. But sharign the problme with no good solution doesnt' mean we should ignore or trivialise it.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I've had my power turned off in a similar fashion…'2 months behind' is not hard to come by. This is defined by not having your bill 'paid' before a second months bill is issued. What's worse is I had paid my bill online prior to my second bill being issued but there is a lag time between the money leaving my account and hitting CUCs account….apparently. Though I've never seen a delay in paying any other bills online.

    I was asked to provide proof of payment in order to have my power turned back on at 9pm on a week night. I asked how I was expected to do so without power and therefore no internet access. "Oh, can't you use your phone?"

    Maybe this lady was further behind on her bills then I was but this new CUC policy is extreme.

     

  18. brit says:

    Maybe's if they called in all the bad debt that is owed from the big business owners then us small people of normal life wouldn't get the rough end of the stick as much.  However I find it mind boggling htat my electric usage is 100 dollars buth te rest of the charges add up to nearly 350 dollars….go figure & why are we having to pay the government's tax/duties on fuel???

  19. Anonymous says:

    Attention 'Manager CUC"  apply the rules fairly to all.

    There are  "customers" who are never cut off after  running arrears for many months. They are are friends and family of CUC employees and are never ever cut off runnng arrears of $1000 month after month. Their names are never sent to the cut off crew because they have inside contacts. Come on CUC examine your books.. There are people who know!! This is a joke!! I would be shocked if CUC actually pulled the plug on some of these parasites. 

     

    • Anonymous says:

      employees at cuc

       

      the men and women who keep your power on get cut off for late payments just. like. you.

       

       

       

  20. Anonymous says:

    Did she still have a car loan she was able to pay and did she still manage to get her nails done? Sorry this may be a genuine story but Cayman has too many free riders who think rules and laws dont apply to them and there should always be an exception. 

  21. PPM distress Switch says:

    Those who cast their vote for a government who allowed this power monster to monopolize power in the Grand Cayman simply cannot complain i repeat cannot complain now What time is it Peoples PPM TIME and if the power gets cut off call your PPM savior to get dat muney$$$ to pay and here is some advice Don't hold ya breath !

  22. joker says:

      Just set up a fund to pay the utilty bills for all Caymanians.. I mean they provide you with a place to work for them dont they? Wake up investors and vacation home buyers..!! I think you need to leave the tyres at the dump though…Whompers soon be back in style…. 

  23. Anonymous says:

    Why doesn't the Water Authority also do the same? They let bills run up for 5-7 months before anything is done.  This makes it very difficult for landlords to control, especially when many tenants leave the country unexpectedly and put the burden on the landlord.

     

    CUC is obviously expensive, but everyone is in the same boat.  The woman has most likely eaten, been to the hospital or had visits from friends.  Why can someone not assist in paying the bill for her…?  I believe this is a situation of unfortunate circumstances, but we also need to be aware that delinquent payments just adds to the total amount that the bill payers are having to fork out in the long run.

  24. Anonymous says:

    The emotional side of me is saying, "I feel sorry for her." 

    The pragmatic side of me is saying, "Sounds like the broken leg is an excuse; she could have made an online payment, mailed the payment, sent the payment via NCI, asked a friend to take the payment to CUC directly."

    • Anonymous says:

      Where I would be the first to say something negative towards CUC, if you read the article, the indiviudal was 2 months behind…CUC sends bills out with disconnection notice stamped on your second bill.  Ifyou receive this, you can call them or go in and explain the situation, hence they WILL set up a payment plan.  Where I agree electricity is outrageous here, this person is laying blame on CUC where the blame honestly is on her.  Two months behind and just putting the bill aside and when the come to turn it off, get upset is uncalled for!!! She knew how to get the paper's attention, she should have known how to have someone pay her bill

  25. Anonymous says:

    And they boast a profit every single quarter…hmmm

    • Anonymous says:

      As a business owner, wouldnt you want to make a profit?

    • Garfield says:

      Gasoline & Diesel Prices In Cayman

      North American and UK gasoline and diesel prices are now at their lowest point since December 2010. Prices for these fuels have plummeted during the past few months yet Rubis and Esso prices have not dropped on these Islands. While diesel prices have not dropped as much as gasoline prices they have dropped and diesel is the main fuel that runs CUC generators.

      The question that Caymanians should ask is when are these price drops going to be passed on to the Caymanian consumer by Rubis, Esso and CUC?

    • str8talk says:

      Buy some shares…

  26. Walker says:

    For this situation I question the charitablness of all the people of these islands. There is scope though to discuss the cost of energy in this country. However the government has fixed the profit rate for CUC without allowing outside competiiton. I think we all know who will continue to benifit from these fixed markets.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is simply not true,. There is no fixed rate of return for CUC. Do your research and state the facts!

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Once more – there is NO FIXED PROFIT RATE for CUC. That died years ago.

    • Anonymous says:

      There is competition! A competitive bid for electricity generation occurred recently and CUC had the lowest cost by far.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Wow, thats awful, to have had a broken leg for two months so you can't get around for an entire two months to pay your bills. No CUC, no telephone, not getting your mail to get the bills, etc. – I would suggest that CUC PR department offer to send someone to the lady's home to collect her checque.

    • Anonymous says:

      Or she arranges it.  It is her responsibility.  Why should regular bill payers or shareholders have to shoulder the cost?

  28. I must LAUGH says:

    By "ONLY 2 MONTHS" come on! It's a long time!!!! Was his leg broken for all this time?

  29. John says:

    With no warning?  Your warning is your bill!  Why would you expect to keep a service that you aren't paying for?  

  30. Anonymous says:

    That's life…..no free ride.

  31. Anonymous says:



    Why does government continue to let CUC rape it's people of the these Islands!!

  32. Anonymous says:

    I still don't know why our electricity bills are one of, if not te highest in the region. They keep saying rising cost of fuel but doesn't this affect other countries as well? $900+ for an electricity bill? If I am off island for 3+ weeks and no one is using the airconditioner or the television, I expect my bill to be a lot lower the following month but it is either the same or even higher. I don't trust the meter readings. Something else is going on.

    • Anonymous says:

      Got the office. Ask one of the ladies to check it out for you. They will.

    • Anonymous says:

      I feel your pain buddy. I was off island from July 25th – August 18th, turned off the breakers for everything apart from the fridge. My bill paid in July was $454.79, August bill $440.52, September bill $463.80 and Ocober bill not paid yet is $569.43. Where on earth did I get a break with being off island almost 4 weeks?? CUC reading meters alright!!

      • keeperofthe7keys says:

        absulute hog wash!!! they do read the meter's what they do not read is lies … really my friend you pay for what you use . let's just be real here .

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree 07:34 – I have been on vacation off Island for 1  month and more at a time over the past several years – without use of the Airconditioner, TV, Clothes Dryer etc and my Light Bill has never reduced by anything much at all – Now I could understand if the meter reading was estimated from the prior period but then it should adjust the following period or whenever the meter is read for true…..Not a chance in Hell !

      I also Installed a Tankless Gas Water Heater and Gas Range and do you think my Light Bill changed at all since???? not a penny !

      • Anonymous says:



        I agree 07: 39  , if you have made all the changes that you said , and your cuc bill remain the same . Then i would put all my proof of purchase / installation /gas bills , and go straight to my Attorney then to the court house . I would even help with your legal fees ,i think alot of other people would allso help .  This could roll some heads .

    • Anonymous says:

      Our bills are higher because we use a lot more electricity than others in the region (three to four times on average). The rates are not higher and are not even near the top.  

    • WannabeBracca says:

      'I would check who had a key to your house.  It may not have been as empty as you thought.

  33. Anonymous says:

    We need competition. Hydro power of some sort. The costs are just ridiculous for consumption. 

  34. Anonymous says:

    On Cayman Brac there are pay-as-you go electricity meters. Why can't CUC have them as well?  The ERA chairman is a paid employee of Cayman Brac Power and Light so Brakkers are sure to keep paying higher rates than caymanians.

    • Anonymous says:

      "Than OTHER Caymanians." Think you left that word out. Brackers are still Caymanian!

    • Anonymous says:

      The chairman is not a paid employee of Cayman Brac Power and Light. Check your information. 

  35. Anonyanmous says:

    Here is the perfect reason for solar energy, just wondering out loud how much would it cost in fuel to run a proper generator for two months.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Again this shows the greed of persons. 

    Cayman needs to put its foot down.

    when they screw up their accounting and a person has to go to them to help straighten it out then CUC should pay for it. Time is money is it not. That's their moto.

    when the have an equipment failure which causes power outages, they should pay for it.

    fair IS fair. The only people who would have a problem with this are those with something to lose in CUC.

  37. Anonymous says:

    She could have paid online. Over had someone take in the payment for her. 

    • Anonymous says:

      What would be the point of going to the media to say you did not pay a bill for two months and they disconnected me? You would have gotten a bill with a disconnection notice. Call CUC and make the necessary arrangements! 

      There are many options to pay your bill without coming to CUC but call them to resolve your electricity problem not CNS. I am sympathetic but this does not make a lot of sense apart from giving CNS a headline which allows naysayers to get on their anti CUC bandwagon and write statements without any facts! 

       

  38. Anonymous says:

    And? It's not CUC's fault. I have no sympathy for non-payers. What CUC needs is a pre-paid system such as the one offered over here on the Brac.

  39. Anon says:

    Maybe if electricity did not cost as much as a mortgage on a 3 bedroom house in North America people would not fall behind on payments.

  40. Anonymous says:

    This is a big issue which is rarely spoken of. We have a government supported monopoly, listed on stock the exchange, paying dividends to shareholders on an annual basis, with no incentive to reduce costs or provide a better service. They can act with impunity, if their cost base increases they pass the cost on to the consumer (you & I) and yet they still manage to post profits and pay dividends! Great business model for the principals. 

    It has been a relatively safe bet as an investment proposition, but a good example of the worst possible way to provide a utility!

    • Anonymous says:

      I have a different opinion on this issue. Many governments have looked at the electricity sector in Cayman along with many consultants and experts and they have all concluded that full scale competition will not provide any improved cost or service benefits to consumers. And when I say governments I do mean both political parties. A regulated single provider with competition for generation remains the model that will provide the best value to consumers. CUC operates within this regulated environment and does not operate without impugnity.

      The current regulations which were implemented in 2008 do not allow CUC to directly pass all their cost on to consumers apart from fuel for which they have no control over market prices. CUC's rates to consumers that covers other costs are only allowed to increase in relation to inflation and the increases have been less than inflation over the period since 2008 during which CUC's earnings level has decreased. This demonstrates the opposite of your position that CUC is passing on all of its increases in costs to consumers.

      Your final point regarding investment and dividends is a very important one. There are various ownership models other than investor owned utilities such as government owned utilities.  In all cases the utility has to cover its current costs to remain in business and also has to have some profits to continue to make investments in assets needed to adequately serve customers. Without the access to capital utilities flounder and are not able to provide a reliable service and many examples of this can be found. Utility investors typically accept a lower return on investment when compared to other sectors but expect safe returns in the form of dividends. The risk reward adage. As a shareholder in CUC my dividends have not grown since 2004 and my total returns are currently no higher than an investment in other publicly traded utilities, and are certainly cannot be considered to be excessive in the marketplace.

      Lastly, I am not sure what government supported means. One could look at it from the perspective that CUC has supported governments over the years by providing a reliable service to the island, investing $30-40 million in infrastructure every year, training and promoting Caymanians, providing revenues to government, and providing service at competitive rates when compared to other utilities of the same size. Many other governments struggle with this responsibility and I dare say our own did previous to 1966 the year that they decided franchise the service to CUC.

      • Anonymous says:

        You mentioned the regulator, ERA. The same regulator which had as a MD a fine example of all that is wrong in Cayman. He was not afraid!

      • Anonymous says:

        And how many times have your shares split in the last 20 years? A nice self fulfilling gravy train for all and sundry involved. Top people in CIG are compelled to keep the monopoly going by default of their having a stake. All government officials should be forced to declare their stake, then we might see how deep this rabbit hole goes.

  41. Anonymous says:

    We shorted our bill this summer by 44 cents, by accident of course. Came back home from vacation with all meats in freezer spoiled and everything else.

    Though I forgot to pay the bill. When I looked,44 cents short.

    • Anonymous says:

      20:38 are you saying that your electrcity was disconnected because your bill was 44 cents short?  Is that what you are really saying???

  42. Anonymous says:



    PPM and Joey hew here's a sugetio pull Richard Hew and David Ritch aside and ask how long do they really think they can screw Cayman through CUC

  43. Anonymous says:

    Sorry CNS, 'just two months'.   Seriously?   What does she expect?   So how is shecable to get food for the last two months?   If she or a friend can get out to Fosters, why can't they get to CUC?  

    Not buying it …….

  44. Anonymous says:

    Wholesale US diesel fuel costs should not be rising CNS.  USA refined pump gasoline and pump diesel are trending downward to the cheapest levels since early 2011 and are forecast to continue to drop.  US pump diesel is already down almost 7% from a year ago.  Refined US pump gasoline prices are the lowest since 2010 and also dropping.  Fuel consumers in Cayman should be seeing the same relative discount from cheaper bulk wholesale shipments here.  

    • Anonymous says:

      Fuel prices were rising until this month. The change in prices takes two months to flow through so should be lower for Christmas.

      • Garfield says:

        This is simply not / not true. Fuel prices were not rising until this month. Crude oil prices have been on a consistent decline since June. Suggest you check out some oil price commodity charts for 2014 to get your facts right.

      • Anonymous says:

        The prices have been dropping for eight months..

  45. Anonymous says:

    One big issue here is the lack of notice given. In any civilised country you get a warning that you are overdue. And then if you fail to pay within 7 days a final warning. These days it is done electonically or by text message or both. European courts enforced this to protect human rights and people like the person described in the article. Ah, Caymankind!

    • Anonymous says:

      Your comment makes so sense at all. If you miss paying one bill when the next one comes it is a disconnection notice in big red writing. How much more of a warning do you need ?

  46. Anonymous says:

    Seriously? She didnt have anyone that could drop of payment? She couldnt call and give her credit card details….pay online? I am sure she has left her house at least once since she broke her leg. That is BS…why is this even considered news?

    • Lawsten Fown says:

      Maybe it's not news, but it gives all of us that think CUC is profiteering a chance to gripe and badmouth them.

  47. Anonymous says:

    The continuation of this continues to display how much Cayman is turning into a lower level 3rd world country. Neccessities of life such as water and electricity are now considered as luxury goods and to make matters worse FOOD is closing into this category as well. We Caymanians as people need to start implementing leaders who will make effective change and if they are unwilling to do so have them removed by any means necessary. The time for voting in leaders based on whether or not they attend your grandmother's furneral or one of their parents/grandparents were friendly withyour mother/grandmother is long over. Wake up Cayman, we the people are the government and the members of the LA are there to serve our best interests not theirs!!

  48. Anonymous says:

    I pay my CUC bill on-line.

     I'm sure a friend could have also dropped off the payment.

  49. Frank says:

    As long as high ranking government officials have a large share interest in CUC, the monopoly will continue and rates will remain excessive for the average member of the public. When their returns are more than enough to offset their monthly CUC bill, nobody else matters. Fact. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Here are some real facts:

      1. Utiltities are normally monopolies.

      2. CUC's rates are a middle of the range for the Caribbean region.

      3. It would require a very large shareholding indeed in CUC to be able to offset CUC's bills.

      Now can you please identify the high-ranking government officials who have the "large share interest" in CUC and who are responsible for granting its exclusive licence? Put up or shut up. 

       

      • Anonymous says:

        Kurt Tibbetts…that's ONE. But Ima go on and "shut up". PEACE.

      • Anonymous says:

        I know of 2 government officials personally who have more than enough shares to cover their CUC costs, so the initial post is correct. Also the statement that most utilities are monopolies is hogwash. Maybe on islands is the caribbean this is the case, which is why Cayman is "average" for the region. Just because other islands are also running monopolies and charging their clients extortionate rates it doesn't make it OK for CUC to do it. 

         

        • Anonymous says:

          Your post adds nothing to the original post and for all I know you could be the original poster. Names and facts please, not empty accusations against faceless people.  

      • Anonymous says:

        Why you are one of them! You shut up!

        • Anonymous says:

          That's right, I am one of them and am asking you to expose me by name on CNS rather than keep my head down. You are really stupid. Smh 

    • Anonymous says:

      15:42.Speculation ,pure and simple.No basis in fact.You are challenged to provide facts or not post.

      • Anonymous 2 says:

        Who are you to tell someone not to post.  Are you the premier or the CNS editor?

    • Anon says:

      I guess 20 share holders read this post judging by the dislikes. I agree. 

    • Anonymous says:

      It is interesting to note that no one would suggest to the customer that it is important to pay the bills on time. Not just to CUC but to any one from whom you would get a paid service.

      Wendy's slant on the story. in my opinion, is unfair. I can tell you that CUC will work with customers who have difficulty paying their bills  So to say that the customer's pleas fell on deaf ears I beleive is just being sensational.

      If that customer called CUC and explained the position and made arrangements to pay, the eletricity would be turned back on. 

      If you don't pay LIME by the 20th of each month you will be barred from service, if your water bill is not paid on time, you start paying interest to start with. You cannot not pay your mortage and keep your home! 

      CUC is really not the bad guy in this story although the writer'sapproach was to achieve just that. 

       

       

       

       

  50. MEM says:

    Shameful, shameful Cayman!

  51. Anonymous says:

    No sympathy.  Non payers make power more expensive for everyone.

    • Anonymous says:

      People, people, people, this is the same wicked company that kept charging the people of the cayman islands after Hurricane Ivan…..even though we had no electricity….they kept charging us the service fees…they don't care and government has allowed them to stay and do this to us…it should cost over $1000 to cool off a 1500 sq foot brand new house, when the ac is only turned on after 10pm……

      • Anonymous says:

        If you have a brand new 1500 sq ft house that costs $1000 per month and the air conditioner is only turned on at 10 PM then you need to get some help from CUC or an energy audit company plain and straight!

        • Anonymous says:

          My question is who needs an a.c. after 10pm at night?  It's cool then.

      • Anonymous says:

        sorry to hear that but i think that you should've planned your house better. just built a 3100 sq ft house with insulated foam and poured concrete and used gas for almost everything. I pay $400 per month to CUC and have a/c on all the time, fill my propane tank twice a year at $265. I pay less now than i did in a poorly built condo 4 years ago, it pays to plan properly.

      • Anonymous says:

        I pay $500 and that’s just me alone no ac

    • Sparky says:

      All well and good in principle, except that CUC regularly does not send me bills for one month and then follows the next with disconnection notices. Might be the Post Office’s fault. Might be CUC’s. Either way, I am the one in danger of being cut off.

    • Anonymous says:

      CaymanKind.

    • Pay up, sucker says:

      Huh? How so??

      • Anonymous says:

        If people don't pay their bills or pay them late the company has to budget for that in order to have the cash flows to carry on business operations and make capital investments. Even if you pay late the company can risk not having the cash to cover expenses that they have to pay on time, and it also loses out on returns on the money when it comes in late. Companies cover their risk that people don't pay or pay late by increasing the prices for everyone.

    • Anonymous says:

      How tha f**k do u figure that huh are you paying my bill? If I’m disconnected u don’t pay my bill assh*** u pay urs mine still stays disconnected until I PAY MY bill idioto