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Electricity, Heat Back On At Monroeville Apartment

MONROEVILLE (KDKA) -- When KDKA checked in on 2-year-old Brooklyn Wednesday night at her family's Monroeville home, she was wrapped in a blanket. No heat.

Her father, Robert Easly, was worried. He reached out to us for help.

When he talked to KDKA's Marty Griffin, the electricity had been off and on since last Saturday. The owner of the building told KDKA he thought it was okay, he had a generator going.

Griffin: "When can you promise these people will have electricity?"

"I don't know," said Mike Melik, the property owner. "A contractor's going to tell you, but he's saying it's going to be connected today."

Griffin: "How can you charge people rent when they don't have electricity?"

Melik: "We are providing them electricity. How can you say they don't have electricity?"

Griffin: "Only because I was in the apartment when the lights went out."

Well, after KDKA left, extra crews showed up. Duquesne Light was called in. On Thursday, the generator was gone and the electricity is back on.

When we were in Zachary Schillinger's apartment on Wednesday, he and his mom were wearing winter coats inside with blankets and candles to keep warm.

He's very grateful we got involved.

Schillinger: "He got onto it very quickly after you dropped by."

Griffin: "It's frustrating that you have to do that, isn't it?"

Schillinger: "Yes."

There may be electricity, but folks are still fuming.

Vladimir Kimgo, a Russian immigrant, says it wasn't this cold in his apartment in his homeland.

Kimgo: "I was freezing to death. I made a note; I woke up, the temperature in my bedroom was 35 degrees.

Griffin: "The temperature in your bedroom was 35 degrees?"

Kimgo: "Yes."

Several tenants now tell KDKA they've had enough. They're planning to move out, even break their lease and fight in court if they have to.

If you'd like Marty to help you solve your problem, email him at GetMarty@kdka.com.

RELATED LINKS:
Monroeville Apartment Building Owner Promises To Fix Heat, Power Problems (1/29/14)
More Get Marty Reports
More Reports by Marty Griffin

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