One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Camp Pendleton families face high electric bills, eviction notices
The South Gate at Camp Pendleton, which is home to the U.S. Marine Corps' 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
(
KPCC/John Ismay
)
Some Camp Pendleton Marine families are being surprised with high electric bills and being told to pay or face eviction before Christmas, CW San Diego reported.
The Lyens family tells the news station that after paying nothing for electricity for two years as many military families do, they suddenly got a $530 electric bill, despite them not having air conditioning or being home for weeks at a time. Shortly after, they received an eviction notice, which has been halted pending an energy audit on their home.
Lauren Lyens, whose husband Hunter serves as a corporal, says dozens of other families are having the same issue and getting the runaround as to who is responsible.
Congressman Darrell Issa responded to Camp Pendleton families’ concerns in a statement Friday:
I take the concerns of our Marines and their families seriously. That's why my office has responded to recent news reports and calls from constituents to our office on the electric bills at Pendleton by beginning a dialogue with the appropriate powers to ensure these disputes are resolved swiftly and that service members are not paying more than they ought to. So far, everyone has been responsive to our requests and we look forward to working with them to get the facts and resolve any remaining differences.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
