What would you do if you received a shut-off notice and did not have the money to prevent the shut-off? (Q37 Wi2020)

This chart reflects responses to Question #37 from the Winter 2020 survey, which asks respondents, “What would you do if you received a shut-off notice and did not have the money to prevent the shut-off?” This is an open ended question and responses were categorized manually. All eighty-three respondents answered this question. 

• Eight respondents (9.6%) reported they did not know. 

• Nine respondents (10.8%) mentioned government programs, with seven mentioning LIHEAP (four indicated crisis specifically), two mentioning UESF, and one unspecified (many respondents indicated more than one). 

• Twenty-seven respondents (32.5%) answered that they would call the utility company. 

• Nine respondents (10.8%) indicated they would go to an agency, ECA, or NEC. 

• Fourteen respondents (16.9%) stated they would get help from family or friends. 

• Three respondents (3.6%) would deal with it and another three respondents (3.6%) would start saving money. 

• Six respondents (7.2%) would get unspecified help. 

• Twelve respondents (14.5%) would borrow money. 

• One respondent (1.2%) would call their landlord. 

• Three respondents (3.6%) reported they would pay it. 

• One respondent (1.2%) would pray, and another would go into their 403. 

• Lastly, one respondent (1.2%) would find someplace else to stay.

The data was produced by the Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 Survey - Overview, which was administered to 83 people over a fourteen week period between December 2020 and March 2021. Visit the Winter 2020 Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 - Survey Results page to view more data from our survey. The project is approved by Drexel’s IRB.