Hello everyone,

  I am a single parent and a full-time student.  I have been using financial aid money to pay my bills.  This fall i am slated to graduate and my financial aid has been drastically cut. I am currently looking for employment in my field.  I am a social worker.  I have no family here or for that matter, any where else.  I have maintained my rent, my car and it's many forms of maintainence, my child's needs and a lot of my own for a very long time. Ga. Power is the sole provider of electric service here in Atlanta, and they have apparently decided that they will charge me and arm and a leg per therm.  There is only two of us, and our light bill is usually about 90-100 dollars a month; but in November they started to spike. November's bill was 157.00 and Dec.'s was 187.00.  I callled and was told that therms were higher and heating cost went up in the winter months.  Mind you, i have maintained a home well over 15 years during the summer as well as the winter.  I never encountered this problem.  One week ago today, Ga. Power turned off my lights, seeing as though i live in a totally electric house, i have been in peril this last week.  Yes, all agencies of community help have been called-"no funds" is what i am told.  Since the winter months are on their way out, i would assume the bill will go back down.  I just need to give Ga.Power money to turn on our(my daughter and myself) lights.  We are in need, and we live alone- no boyfriend,baby-daddy,husband, or relative. that's why i don't understand why that billed spiked so, we have always lived alone.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Like some of the others say, even if it's just a quick prayer for us.

Hey Tina,  All i can say is hang in there.  I,too, am an adult survivor of sexual abuse.  The memory of it can be very debilitating when one is trying to accomplish life's goals.  It has taken me 15 years to earn my B.S.  I was simply afraid to succeed.  I felt that someone would unravel my past and i would be destroyed publicly.  I am a sigle parent with a daughter.  I fight everyday to keep her safe from predators.  Being sexually abused as a child has far reaching consequences.  I suggest that you look into your life and smooth that guilt and shame you are feeling.  It was and is not your fault!!!!!!  You were very brave to post your letter, even if it is anonymous. I also am having some financial difficulties, so i know exactly how you feel.  hang in there girl. 

Hi, Single parent and full time student who has maintained well.  Ran into a few problems these past couple of months.  Ga. Power, the sole provider of electric service here in atlanta has decided to charge me and arm and leg for my winter utilities.  When asked about this 4 month long spike, they told me that the therms cost more and so does winter heating.  Long story short, my child and i are in need of emergency assistance.  We live in a total electric house and have been having a very bad week.  I maintain all my bills, but that ga. power was sending bills here before i could pay the other.  i just need a little help to get over this hump, then i will be graduating and hopefully finding work in my field, social work.  Thanks for all your prayers and any help given will be greatly appreciated. Thanx 4 reading all this.