Xcel Energy Uses Loan Shark Collection Tactics

Lies In Service Writer Notes, Refusal To Comply With PUC Policy

A Colorado Landlord Has Nothing To Eat For Two Weeks

Xcel Energy uses unethical practices in collecting alleged past due sums

Xcel Energy, the company responsible for providing utility services to millions of people, uses unethical collection practices in making their buck under the Public Utilities Commissions rules.

Under P.U.C. rules, when a landlord leases his property to a third party, that third party establishes a new utility account.  If the landlord has a dispute with Xcel, the landlord's tenant, who is an innocent third party, has nothing to do with the dispute.  That is the theory.

Recently, a tenant from India leased a small commercial space on Denver's growing East Colfax Avenue. The Landlord told the Tenant he was battling with Xcel Energy, but was fairly certain the Giant Xcel would not take their wrath out on innocent third persons.   Currently, the Better Business Bureau has 39 complaints for unethical billing practices by powerful utility.

The Landlord had been doing battle with XCEL Energy unfair debt collection practices for years.  For example, on another building near Kalamath St. in Denver, owned by the Landlord, XCEL refused to transfer the utilities out of the Landlord's name despite a valid lease having been provided to Excel Energy.  The building had two meters.  Excel transferred one of the two meters to the tenant, but refused to transfer the second meter.

For 4 years, Xcel Energy periodically called the Landlord and threatened to turn off utilities for the meter they refused to transfer.  The calls caused a great deal of distress to the Landlord who was having tough financial times and could not afford to lose his tenant.  The agents repeatedly insisted the Landlord was responsible for payment and threatened collection action on an account the Landlord did not owe.  The Landlord repeatedly told  Xcel Energy he was not in possession of the property and was not responsible for payment.  Excel agents lied in their notes they keep for each conversation and said the Landlord had accepted responsibility and was in residence.

Back to the East Colfax building.  When the Landlord's prior tenant moved out of the building, Excel Energy was happy to restore service to the Landlord.  When they transferred the account into the Landlord's name, they didn't tell the Landlord they were going to transfer old, disputed, accounts from other properties onto the new account.  They also didn't tell the Landlord they were going to require a large deposit to continue services.  Once the service was in the Landlord's name, Excel Energy transferred in the old disputed accounts, and instituted a deposit requirement.  The Landlord, who has health problems, who had nothing to eat for over two weeks in 2012, could not possibly pay the new massive combined bill, nearly $2,000.  Xcel Energy turned off the utilities.

The Landlord made a verbal complaint to the Public Utilities Commission who sent the Landlord to Jeff Eden, a trouble shooter for Excel.  After Jeff reviewed the lease he adjusted the bill to zero, realizing the Landlord had not been in possession and should not have been responsible.  No apology for the unethical comments and attempts to collect the bill was ever made.

When the Landlord offered to make a payment on the East Colfax property, Eden arranged to have the utilities turned on.  The parties agreed to make efforts to resolve the bill, though Eden refused to agree to an amount and timing for the next payment during the call.  The Landlord disputes parts of the bill, especially the portion of the bill that was being transferred from other properties and the arbitrary deposit placed by Xcel Energy.

Meanwhile, the Landlord leased the building.  Xcel Energy put the new tenant, who does not speak the best English, through a difficult process.  They insisted the Tenant provide a copy of the Lease which the Tenant did.  The Landlord believed Xcel Energy would abide by their obligation to transfer the utilities to the new tenant.  Meanwhile, the Landlord began reviewing information from Xcel Energy, including some of the false notes made by service writers.

The Landlord, who has been skipping meals because of finances, was devastated when he heard Xcel Energy turned off the utilities on the East Colfax property. His tenant, who should not have been involved in the dispute, was harmed.  The Landlord may lose his Tenant at a time when he is barely managing to survive.  It was late in the day when the Landlord contacted Jeff Eden, who said there was nothing he could do.  Apparently he needed to get home and feed his children.  

Senator Michael Bennet Extends Welcome To New Citizens

Fort Carson, CO – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed a group of 13 soldiers and family members of soldiers as they became American citizens during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony held at Fort Carson. 

The new American citizens hail from all over the world including Colombia, Haiti, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, China, Philippines, South Korea, Togo, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

“These individuals have bravely served and sacrificed for this country.  It is a special and exciting moment to see them as they become a part of the fabric of this great nation,” Bennet said. “We are a nation of immigrants, and these ceremonies remind us of the important contributions immigrants make to our communities.”

“It is also a reminder that we have to continue working to fix our broken immigration system to ensure that we are welcoming the best and brightest into America and that we make it possible for other immigrants to share in this momentous experience.”

As a member of the “gang of 8” that co-authored the immigration reform bill that passed the Senate last year, Bennet has been actively involved in crafting immigration policy and working to fix our broken system.  In Colorado, he brought farmers, ranchers, law enforcement agencies, faith leaders, and Latino advocates together to craft a set of principles called the Colorado Compact.  The Compact helped inform work in the “gang of 8.”

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights, and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.

Naturalization for military members and their families is expedited.  Over the last decade, roughly 93,000 members of the armed forces have become U.S. citizens.  Unfortunately, the Valenzuela Brothers, from Colorado, who fought in the Viet Nam war have been unable to naturalize.  The current law refuses to over-look the contribution veterans have made to the country in relationship to their record after leaving the service.  Many Viet Nam veterans, for example, were severely traumatized by the insanity of in-theater fighting.  After returning home, they fell astray of the law.   The current law makes little exception for immigrant soldiers.

Meanwhile, President Obama continues his record of deportations far exceeding the Bush/Cheney numbers.  Latinos are unhappy with the President for his refusal to sign an executive order halting deportations in lieu of his inability to bring lawmakers together on immigration reform.  Even some Latino leaders disagree on the executive order.  If left as the status quo, it would leave immigrants in a never-ending second- class-citizen limbo in which they never have a say in the government that controls them, while always being subject to loss of status each time a president takes office.  An executive order would at least stop the dismantling of families.

Republican lawmakers are pushing for a piecemeal solution to immigration which will increase immigrants in the high tech sector, presumably lowering the cost of labor.  They blame the Democrats for holding piecemeal measures up in the U.S. House of Representatives pending a vote on the entire immigration package.  However, a few House Republicans are holding up a harsh, re-written, version of of the U.S. Senate bill which would likely pass if key Republicans would allow it.  Hence, Republicans might do better to point fingers at their own party leadership for the failure to vote on an immigration package which will identify most people in the country, thus making America more secure.

Marriage Equality For Homosexuals UCC and UUA Say YES!

Joint Letter of Support for Marriage Equality

United Church of Christ & Unitarian Universalist Association

Ellen Degeneras from her blog post in support of a proposition in California allowing gay marriages

DENVER (March 4, 2014) – 72 Colorado clergy, faith leaders, and members of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) released a joint letter of support for marriage equality for same-sex couples. About 20 faith leaders prayed together and presented their join letter.

Both the UCC and the UUA have been at the forefront in the struggle for justice and equality affirming that the inherent worth and dignity of every person applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Both UUA and UCC congregations and clergy have long recognized and celebrated same-sex marriages within their faith traditions.  For more than 30 years, both faith communities have worked for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons, consistently calling for an end to discrimination, equal protection under the law, deploring LGBTQ hate crimes and violence, supporting LGBTQ relationships and families, celebrating the gifts of LGBTQ persons for ministry and encouraging all settings of the church to be open and affirming of LGBT persons, welcoming them and encouraging their participation in every aspect of the mission and ministry of the church.

Across the nation and here in Colorado, the movement to grant full marriage equality to same-sex couples is rapidly growing.  As the debate surrounding marriage equality for all continues, those speaking on behalf of their religious beliefs have been among some of the most vocal opponents to same-sex marriage.  Those signing the letter believe it is important for the public to know that there is an equally committed group of religious leaders and faith communities firmly in support of marriage equality for all people.

To that end, clergy and members of UCC and UUA congregations across Colorado "affirm that the conventional values that are essential to the Gospel are central to how we understand marriage in this time.  We also recognize and affirm that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God and blessed by the Spirit of Love, including people of all sexual orientations.  We further believe that human sexuality is a sacred gift bestowed upon all people equally.  As such, we recognize and affirm full equality in marriage and that all people have the right to lead lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure."

Interfaith Organizing Director

American Friends Service Committee

jpiper@afsc.org

0:  303.623.3464 ext. 5

C:  720-301-1858

901 W. 14th Ave. #7,

Denver, Colorado 80204

afsc.org/denver/

Story from press release 

March Forth

Ellen DeGeneres has a unique take on it.  She wrote a letter to the Supreme court and asked people to tweet it.  The response was very strong, to say the least.  Here is the letter she wrote:

California's Proposition 8 is headed to the Supreme Court. Hundreds of companies and families as well as Republicans are submitting briefs urging the 9 judges to allow gay people to marry. I thought that was ridiculous. Why would judges want all of that underwear? Then, after a quick talk with some people, I found out what a brief was.

I've never filed a brief to the Supreme Court, so I thought I would post mine here. I'm sure someone will tweet it to them.

Portia and I have been married for 4 years and they have been the happiest of my life. And in those 4 years, I don't think we hurt anyone else's marriage. I asked all of my neighbors and they say they're fine.

But even though Portia and I got married in the short period of time when it was legal in California, there are 1,138 federal rights for married couples that we don't have, including some that protect married people from losing their homes, or their savings or custody of their children.

The truth is, Portia and I aren't as different from you as you might think. We're just trying to find happiness in the bodies and minds we were given, like everyone else.

Coming out was one of the hardest things I ever did. I didn't intend to be on the cover of Time magazine saying, "Yep, I'm gay." The truth is, I don't even remember saying that. I mean, I definitely said the "I'm gay" part. It's the "yep" I don't remember. I'm not really a "yep" person. "Yes siree Bob" maybe. But not "yep."

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "We're here, we're queer, get over it." And there's another famous quote that says "A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members." I couldn't agree with that more. No one's really sure who said it first, so if anyone asks, tell them I said it.

I hope the Supreme Court will do the right thing, and let everyone enjoy the same rights. It's going to help keep families together. It's going to make kids feel better about who they are. And it is time.

*I was just told Benjamin Franklin did not say that first quote. I apologize and see that I have a lot to learn about stuff.

Above letter from Ellen DeGeneres

Many people oppose same sex marriage because they feel it reduces the sanctity of heterosexual relationships and violates religious principles.