LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A judge has ruled that electricity will stay on at a north Lubbock mobile home park where tenants nearly lost power during the recent winter storm.<\/p>\n
Tenants said their landlord stopped paying the electric bill even though they have been paying rent. <\/p>\n
The ruling comes as part of an ongoing legal dispute over utility service at the mobile home park.<\/p>\n
Court hearing brings temporary victory<\/p>\n
Attorney Benjamin Gerzik called Wednesday\u2019s hearing a victory after his client, Maria Tucker, sued to keep the lights on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe power is going to stay on. It\u2019s a great outcome. She had power through the storm,\u201d Gerzik said.<\/p>\n
In January, Tucker worked with Legal Aid of North Texas to ask 99th District Judge Phillip Hays for help. Tucker claimed her landlord, Thunder Sun, failed to pay the electricity bill. She was current on her rent, but a retail electric provider asked Lubbock Power and Light to cut service.<\/p>\n
Tucker feared losing power before the winter storm hit. Judge Hays granted a temporary restraining order that required LP&L to restore power immediately.<\/p>\n
City defends utility cutoff<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s attorney defended the cutoff on Wednesday. He said LP&L followed the law and carried out a request from the retail electric provider.<\/p>\n
He argued the city could end up footing the bill if it fails to follow an electric provider\u2019s service order to cut the power. The attorney also said the Public Utility Commission could enforce penalties.<\/p>\n
He believes Tucker should have taken her complaint to the PUC, not court. The judge will hear more arguments about jurisdiction at the next hearing.<\/p>\n
Notification issues remain<\/p>\n
Gerzik also said LP&L failed to properly notify tenants about the cutoff. Many don\u2019t even know who provides their electricity because the accounts are in their landlord\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to tell you\u2014this is affecting you, tenant at this lot. This is your retail electric provider. This is how you can contact them and these are the rights available to you,\u201d Gerzik said.<\/p>\n
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 3.<\/p>\n
Previous coverage:<\/p>\n
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