AVISTA: Right in seeking payment

So a person can take items or services from a business and as long as they have a firearm and threaten the person trying to do their job, it’s only “perceived” as a threat? Really? Sounds like the police are facilitating injury or death to utility workers. And the Press article is very slanted.

I worked for a utility and a family member currently works for the evil Avista. I know for a fact that Avista attempts to work with people that have a hard time paying. I do not believe for one minute the statement that Avista showed no leniency.

The TV news said the bill is over $3,000. That isn’t what I would call being almost paid off as she states in the Press. Like any business, Avista wants and is entitled to their money or no service.... duh. Did you just ignore them?

If you don’t pay your mortgage, they take your house. If you go into a store and take things without paying, you get arrested. It’s theft. Using utilities and not paying for them is theft. Just like someone staying at your bed and breakfast and not paying.

The person doing the shut off doesn’t have the authority to negotiate. If you threaten a utility worker with a firearm, it should be a crime and you should lose service for at least a year and have to have a hearing in front of the utility commission to get service returned. This is ridiculous!

SANDY REID

Coeur d’Alene