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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.
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KPCC/John Ismay
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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.
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