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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4

    Default City Evicting People for Not Using Public Utilities

    I live in Redding, Ca. The city owns the utility company. If you do not use their company for your electricity the city code officer will come out and evict you. Isn't this some sort of extortion by color of authority?

  2. #2

    Default Re: City owned utilities and color of authority

    Do they have a minimum monthly charge? Do they impose a connection fee? Theoretically, you could avoid the entire legal mess by just getting connected and then not using any electricity from that particular utility.

    Is there a competing utility? Do you want to use an alternative energy source? Do you just want to fight the city code for the principle of the matter?

    Redding, CA is pretty close to the Columbia River, isn't it? You should have cheap hydroelectric power available

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: City owned utilities and color of authority

    The reason I'm asking is because the city of Redding is evicting people who have their utilities disconnected. There have been several newspaper articles over the past year regarding this matter. Apparently, when someone has their electricity shut off for failure to pay their bill, the city sends a code inspector out to evict them because its dangerous to use candles or generators.
    I feel not only is this ridiculous, it's illegal. Isn't this extortion under color of authority? City owned utilities saying we must use their electricity or be evicted by the code inspector?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: City owned utilities and color of authority

    an inspector cannot evict. It would require court action. At best they could condemn a residence that would require vacating the premises but unless they have statute or ordinance to support them, they have no legit authority to do so.

    the inspector may be able to cite illegal use but they have no power to evict.



    the city sends a code inspector out to evict them because its dangerous to use candles or generators.
    Unless there is some statute resticting the use of candles or generators , these people need to tell the inspector to go to hell. As well, either of those are temporary and curable violations (if they are in fact violations)

    Isn't this extortion under color of authority?
    sure sounds like it. Has anybody contacted the states attorney general?

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