Cooper Family

I do not like to complain ever and really try hard not to...especially on Facebook, but I have reached my threshold and am ready for a breakdown. This is more of a cry for advice or suggestions. My family has been without power or heat for exactly 4 weeks. FOUR WEEKS. Ohio Edison is accusing me (yes, me, Maria...I only say it like that because anyone who knows me well knows that I wouldn’t even steal a paperclip) of tampering with the meter. The time period for which this allegation is coming is when Dave was traveling with fake Elvis (trying hard to add humor). So, it is me who allegedly tampered with the meter (or one of my children apparently...my money would be on Caroline). They want me to pay over $4000 for a fine (even if I had this, I would not pay because I did not tamper with the #%^*+#% meter). I honestly don’t even know if I can reach the meter.

I feel as though I have tried everything. I even reached out to Sherrod Brown’s office. They were kind and sympathetic and questioned the legality of this and even sent a letter to Ohio Edison. Ohio Edison sent me an email after saying that they heard from Sherrod Brown and I still need to pay the fine. When I told Ohio Edison that my oldest child has asthma and relies from time to time on an asthma machine that requires power, their response was (from multiple people) “we don’t care”. When I said that my youngest was a preemie and needs heat (I mean we all need heat), again I got “we don’t care”.

I tried reaching out to electric co ops in the area and we have no other options but Ohio Edison. I do not understand how this is legal to accuse me of something and just determine I’m guilty and deny our family something that seems to be a necessity.

It has been so long that using a generator (I’m incredibly sorry to all my neighbors because it is so loud) has become our norm. I watch my poor husband work 12+ hour days and then have to go get gas to fill said generator. My children can tell when the generator is dying and it’s become a game where who can tell when the lights are going to go off first, gets a prize (I’m trying so hard to not let their world be impacted and make this fun...what has my life become?!). I now can’t sleep at night and can’t eat because I am so incredibly stressed. Dave will be going out of town this weekend, and, since I don’t know how to use the generator, the kids and I will have to go somewhere for the weekend...not sure where yet... Chris, this is your warning that we may show up at your doorstep (neighbors will get a reprise from the annoying generator)

Thank you so much to my neighbors who have been so tolerant (except for the random guy who lives not next to me and stopped to check out my generator and scare my nanny). Thank you to Emily Pakeltis and Daniel Schroyer who have taken my laundry to their house, Chris Koviak and Matthew Pavlina who took us in when Dave has traveled and Jennifer Geyer and Sara Sebring for not letting me completely go off the deep end.

I am trying so hard to still go to work and maintain a normal life, but it is becoming difficult and all I can think most of the time is “I want my mom ”. Again, please no sympathy, and I am so sorry for complaining. I really hate to complain and have tried so hard to maintain positivity, but if anyone has any suggestions of what to do, I am desperate and will try anything (maybe not really anything, but you get it)

If anyone sees me wondering the streets aimlessly, it’s because I now have not slept in 4 nights.

#ohioedison