Setting up Utilities without using the Mark of the Beast
This is a
challenge. Especially with the power company. However, we have succeeded in
getting all of the utilities into our name so that the landlord does not have to
pay them and bill them to us.
The Water
and the Gas companies were no big deal, except that you have to do
it in person if you do not bear the Mark. The second question out of
everyone's mouth is "Social?" I am very social, I answer. But
that is not what they want to hear. However, going into the office and
showing the
Affidavits of Identification that we have made (complete with "ID
number" that we make up), was sufficient. A letter of credit from an
old utility company waives any deposits.
The cable
company (for internet service) was a little worse. "Government-issued
ID" is what they want. Sorry, no can do. I have no SSAN, so I cannot get
state ID. Do you have a passport? Why would I need one of those in the land of
my birth? Sorry, we cannot set up service without knowing who you are.
A bit of
research into the laws of the state is the next order of business. In most
states, I would have filed a complaint with the "civil rights" department of the
state government. In Nevada, the
"civil rights"
department only handles "employment" issues. So who "regulates" the cable and
electric companies? In Nevada, it is the Public Utilities Commission.
The statutes and regulations are pretty clear: They can do nothing outside
their Tariff that is filed with the PUC. So let's take a look at the Tariff.
No mention of an SSAN here (except for those on public assistance who
need help with their bills). No mention of identification, government or
otherwise here. I guess they are attempting to compel a contract that is
not in keeping with their Tariff.
NRS § 704.120.
Commission may substitute just and reasonable rates, regulations, practices or
services after investigation and hearing:
1. If, upon any hearing and after due investigation, the rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rates shall be found to be unjust, unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, or to be preferential, or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the commission shall have the power to fix and order substituted therefor such rate or rates, tolls, charges or schedules as shall be just and reasonable.
2. ****/If it
shall in like manner be found that any/**** regulation, measurement,
****/practice/****, act or service ***/complained of is unjust, unreasonable,
insufficient, preferential, unjustly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of
the provisions of this chapter/****, or if it be found that the service is
inadequate, or that any reasonable service cannot be obtained, ****/the
commission shall have the power to substitute therefor such other/****
regulations, measurements, ****/practices/****, service or acts ****/and make
such order relating thereto as may be just and reasonable/****.
3. When complaint
is made of more than one rate, charge or practice, the commission may, in its
discretion, order separate hearings upon the several matters complained of and
at such times and places as it may prescribe.
4. ****/No
complaint shall at any time be dismissed because of the
absence of direct
damage to the complainant/*.***
5. */***The
commission may at any time, upon its own motion, investigate any of the/****
rates, tolls, charges, rules, regulations, ****/practices***/* and service,
*/**and, after a full hearing as above provided, by order, make such changes as
may be just and reasonable, the same as if a formal complaint had been
made.***/*
NAC 704.321 Terms
of agreement with customer.
1. Except as
otherwise provided in this section, ****/a utility may not enter into any
agreement with a customer under terms which are inconsistent with the provisions
of NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive.***/*
2. Nothing in NAC
704.302 to 704.390, inclusive, shall be deemed to preclude a utility from
entering into an agreement with a customer under terms which are more favorable
to the customer than those provided by those sections.
So, I asked the
customer service representative if I could talk to someone in their legal
department. I was connected to Diane and I asked her the following
questions:
1. Is your company
regulated by the PUC? (yes)
2. Do you follow
all of the regulations and tariffs published? (yes)
3. Can you force
me to enter in to any agreement under terms that are inconsistent with the
provisions of NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive? (No)
4. Do you realize
that I do not have an SSAN because of my religious beliefs and that I cannot get
state issued photo ID for the same reason? (I do now).
5. Can you show me
in the regulations or in the tariff a requirement that I give you an SSAN or
show any identification in order to contract for service? (big silence)
Diane told me that
she was going to call the corporate office and get back to me.
20 minutes later,
she told me that my service was going to be connected and that someone would
call me to set up an appointment. I get connected on Monday, between 10 and 1.
The electric
company took 3 hours. We first went to the local office and talked to
Darnell. He was kind, but not helpful. He was not willing to look at the
tariff and show us the requirement. He used the "Nuremburg"
defense: I am just following orders. I had Stumpy talk on the
phone to Antoine, as she had done most of the research and had the "belligerent
claimant" attitude down pat. Besides, I could always swoop in later and
be "good cop" if they had enough of Stumpy. On the phone Antoine told us one
thing and told Darnell something else. Stumpy told Antoine that we were coming
downtown and that he had that amount of time to find the part of the Tariff
that required an SSAN or government issued photo ID to set up service. When
we got downtown, Antoine had completely changed his tune. He was courteous
(instead of curt) and helpful (instead of helpless). The service set up was
completed before we left.
So even in Las
Vegas, people of faith can live without the Mark of the Beast or even
government-issued identification.
Fancy that.