And in some cases, like Mr. Willoughby’s, bills rose by more than 50 times the normal cost. The company passes the wholesale price directly to customers, charging an additional $9.99 monthly fee. As the storm rolled through during the past week, however, she kept opening the company’s app on her phone and seeing her bill “just rising, rising, rising,” Ms. Tanner said. Griddy was able to take the money she owed directly from her bank account, and she now has just $200 left. She suspects that she was only able to keep that much because her bank stopped Griddy from taking more.

Source: New York Times February 21, 2021 00:45 UTC