Water Damage Restoration in Killeen, TX

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - A Killeen woman is beside herself after opening her electric bill and learning she would have to pay $600 more than what she usually does.

Thuy Wheaton has used Ambit Energy Co. for seven years and says she has never spent more than $120 on her energy bill, until now.

“My last bill was $111. My September bill was $731,” Wheaton explains.

Adding that she lives alone, rarely cooks and nothing about her usage has changed.

“I’m gone Monday through Friday and only home at night for a couple of hours. I watch TV and go to bed but I don’t know why it goes up to 700 and something dollars - and I can’t afford to pay that,” Wheaton says.

(Editor’s note: Wheaton is listed as Ms. Manning on billing statements, Manning is last name from a previous marriage.)

Sheryl Calderon is one of Wheaton’s many friends who is trying to help her get answers because she says it’s impossible to make sense of the numbers.

“It’s showing a bill to usage of 537 kilowatt hours from August 20th to September 19th, less than a month after, 3,832. 3,823 kilowatt hours. And that is outrageous,” Calderon explains. “Then they charge her for this bill, $400. That’s ridiculous, she can’t afford to make these payments.”

Because Wheaton lives paycheck to paycheck, she had to borrow money to pay her bill. Only for another outrageous bill to be delivered to her mailbox.

“I can’t afford it, so I went back to TXU,” Wheaton says.

She is now putting $20 a month towards paying off the second large bill she received.

KWTX reached out to Ambit Energy and they provided a timeline since Wheaton reported her concerns.

On Sept. 30, Ambit submitted a request for Oncor to run a meter test.

That test happened on Oct. 7 and Oncor reported the meter working properly.

That same day, Ambit opened a high usage dispute on Wheaton’s behalf with Oncor.

On Oct. 9, Oncor responded saying that the billing was correct.

“I can’t afford to pay it so I have to pay what I can, which is $20. Very upset. I don’t know where to go,” Wheaton explains.

Ambit Energy’s Timeline of Events is below:

Sept. 24 – We received an initial call about high bill concerns from Ms. Manning

Sept. 30 – We submitted a meter test request to Oncor on behalf of the customer (for your background, Oncor is the transmission and distribution utility that owns the meters and is responsible for maintaining them. Oncor is responsible for reading meters and reporting customers’ usage to the various retail electric companies for each of their respective customers. Each customer is charged based on that usage.)

Oct. 7 – Oncor responded, indicating that the meter was working properly

Oct. 7 – We opened a high usage dispute on the customer’s behalf with Oncor

Oct. 9 – Oncor responded stating that the billing was correct. Per Oncor, “the consumption is based upon actual reads registered on the meter. No billing adjustments are warranted.”

In summary, we value Ms. Manning as a customer and have been working for weeks to help her identify the cause of the higher-usage readouts on her meter and to connect her with reputable social service agencies for bill payment assistance.

KWTX did reach out to Oncor to get more information on this specific situation and we will let you know when we hear back.

Copyright 2024, KWTX. All rights reserved.

Posted

KILLEEN, Texas (KXXV) — Third-grader My'Kia Joyner, the boss of My'Kia’s Under the Sea Lemonade Stand, is making a big splash in Killeen.

Although new to the area, My'Kia and her mother, Shakeia Jamison, have received overwhelming support from the community — they've even tons of love from thousands of miles away, from Shakeia's hometown of Buffalo, NY.

"My'Kia's lemonade stand was inspired by a desire to help the community," My'Kia said.

"Our goal is to always be able to give back to the community," her mother, Shakeia said.

The stand has become a beacon of hope and charity, as the family continuously finds ways to support local initiatives.

As the stand continues to thrive, My'Kia has grand plans.

"One day, I want to own a business, a business lemonade truck," she said.

But her ambitions don't stop there —

"I want to be an astronaut. I know the ropes to that, I know half the ropes to that," she adds with a smile.

"I’m beyond proud of her — she’s shown me something different every day when it comes to this, and I could see her being very successful in life," Jamison said.

"The duo is not just focused on running a successful business; they’re dedicated to expanding their charitable efforts.

"We’ve done food banks, but we want to get bigger with that, because five is a lot, but we can do hundreds in giving back to the community when it comes to back-to-school bookbags," Shakeia said.

If you're interested in supporting My'Kia’s entrepreneurial dream and their community efforts, you can donate to their GoFundMe campaign here.

My'Kia plans to eventually pass the stand down to her little sister, ensuring the legacy of community support and entrepreneurship continues.

Until then, she's focused on knocking out her big goals and serving up delicious lemonade, one lip-smacking sip at a time.

Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Coming Nov. 23, Destiny World Outreach Center plans to host its 10th annual Feed the 5,000 event, where the community can stop by and get a variety of different produce items and canned goods.

This drive-through event, located at the church, 101 N. W.S. Young, will start at 6 p.m. and won’t end until they run out of food, according to an official at the church.

“We’re so excited to be able to serve our community for the 10th year. We know this year will be the best yet!” Chaston Rowe, an official with the church, said in an email to the Herald.

Last year, the church served 34,000 people during the Feed the 5,000 event and other church food drives. This year, they expect to serve even more.

Feed the 5,000 was inspired by the story in the Bible where Jesus fed the “Five Thousand” found in Matthew 14:13-21, according to officials. Destiny’s mission is to feed the community, surrounding communities, and to bless the people during the holiday season,

To learn more about Feed the 5,000 and other Destiny World Outreach Center events go to destinywoc.com.

Every year since 2015, the church has given away free food to everyone who attends this free, drive-thru-style event. The event has grown tremendously, allowing the church to feed thousands of of people from Killeen and beyond.

“Our first year we served 15,000 people, and from there it has just grown,” Macayla Rowe, event organizer, said at last year’s event. “Every year we just get more and more food, and that helps us to bless more and more people.”

At last year’s event — held Nov. 18, 2023 — thousands of cars were lined up and ready to pick up some groceries almost an hour before the event began. According to the church’s head pastor, Chad Rowe, the church received 12 semi-trucks packed with food items to be given away that evening.

“It is just amazing to serve people from everywhere and from all kinds of backgrounds,” Rowe said at the time.

In previous years, the church has had the opportunity to feed up to 50,000 families in one evening through their upwards of 500 volunteers helping with the food giveaway.

“My sister actually told me about this,” said Crystal Vallejo, a first time attendee, said last year.

Vallejo was preparing for a family Thanksgiving and knew it would be a great opportunity.

“They’re giving back and it’s a really good thing to do, I just think it’s great” Vallejo added.

Donate anytime between Nov. 15 to Dec. 15. On Nov. 20, KCEN 6 News will be out at the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors to take in-person donations.

TEMPLE, Texas — KCEN 6 News is partnering with Communities in Schools of Greater Texas (CIS) based out in Killeen to host a shoes and sock drive from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15.

For the Shoes 4 Kids Drive, we are asking folks to donate new socks and/or shoes for students who are in need for several school districts across Central Texas, including but not limited to: Killeen ISD, Temple ISD, Copperas Cove ISD, Salado ISD and Jarrell ISD.

"You would be surprised how many kids go to school wearing dilapidated shoes; shoes with holes in them or shoes with soles literally hanging by a thread. Needless to say, this can be embarrassing for the student, and usually leads to lower self-esteem," said Executive Director Michael Dewees. "In addition, you would be surprised how a new pair of shoes can brighten up the face of a student in need. Believe it or not, in situations such as this, a new pair of shoes is preferred much more by the child than any toy or game! I think that alone speaks volumes."

Shoes 4 Kids Drive has been a part of the community for the past 15 years and sees great success, Dewees said. He added that Communities in Schools tends to see 200 to 300 pairs of brand new shoes throughout the monthly drive.

"... Knowing it puts smiles on the faces of kids in need. Their donation helps students overcome this challenge, thus allowing them to be able to focus more on school and their studies," he said.

You can donate to the locations listed below at anytime between Nov. 15 to Dec. 15.

However, on Nov. 20, KCEN 6 News will be out at the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors, 306 W. Mary Jane Dr. in Killeen, to also take donations in person, as well as provide the community an opportunity to meet their favorite newscasters!

Yes! Click here to find the donation link on CIS' website. You can also click here to donate via PayPal.

CIS assists Central Texas children in need with a number of services, including providing them with new shoes, socks and clothing. Read more about the organization.

Credit: Communities in Schools