Unfiltered Story #343050

It’s Sunday afternoon and my son calls and tells me the electricity has gone out in the whole neighborhood. I am on my way home from shopping. I call the electric company from my cell phone.
Customer Service: Light Company. What is your account number?
Me: I don’t have it. I’m not at home. My son just called to tell me the power is out.
CS: This phone number is not in our system. I need your account number.
Me: I don’t have it on me. I just need to report an outage. I can give you my home phone or the address.
CS: I need the account number unless you call on the phone associated with the account.
Me: So you can’t take a report on an outage?
CS: No, you’ll have to get your account number. I need to make sure your account hasn’t been shut off for non-payment.
Me: The entire neighborhood is without electricity.
CS: I HAVE to check.
Me: You’re telling me that you would shut off the whole neighborhood if I don’t pay my bill?
CS: Yes. I need the account number.
I decide to ask for a supervisor.
CS: Fine but my supervisor will just tell you the same thing. Hold.
She puts me on hold for a total of 15 minutes. Every 2 minutes she comes back, tells me the supervisor is still busy and I have to hold. Finally I get the supervisor.
Supervisor: How can I help you?
Me: My son called to tell me our power is out. I’m not at home and I don’t know my account number. The account is under my home phone and I’m on the cell. Is there a way to report the outage or do I have to wait until I get home?
Supervisor: Ummm, you know your address, right?
Me: Of course.
Supervisor: So you can tell me that.
Me: gives address
Supervisor: Okay, let me check . . . I’m seeing an outage in your area. We have no information on when it will be fixed but a crew has been dispatched.
Me: So why did the first person I talked to insist I couldn’t report it unless I had my account number?
Supervisor: I’m not sure. Have a nice day. <click>
From the abrupt ending I have to assume I wasn’t the first person who complained about her.