City Condemns House Because Woman Was Trying to Save Money By Using Solar Panels and Batteries Instead of Utility Power  

Cryptogon points to an article on municipal intolerance of people trying to go off-grid - City Condems House Because Woman Was Trying to Save Money By Using Solar Panels and Batteries Instead of Utility Power. Plus a couple more interesting snippets - Pentagon Report Calls for Office of ‘Strategic Deception’ and Howard Zinn Dies At 87. RIP Howard.

An Avondale woman who spent 11 days sleeping in her car said the city treated her unfairly when her home was condemned in December for lack of electricity.

But city officials said Christine Stevens violated building codes, a health and safety concern because Avondale homes are required to have heating systems and a running refrigerator.

Stevens, 47, was trying to make ends meet by powering her home with solar panels and batteries for several months before Avondale code enforcement officials visited her on Dec. 10.

“We explained to her that the panels weren’t enough to sustain a quality of life there,” said Pam Altounian, code enforcement manager for Avondale.

Stevens said she was not given adequate notice before officials gave her 24 hours to contact Arizona Public Service Co. to reconnect electricity or her home would be condemned.

Avondale said a code enforcement officer, Carlena Jones, inspected the property in the 2300 block of North 123rd Lane on Oct. 21 and Nov. 4 and left a notice of violation hanging on the door. According to case reports, both notices went unanswered.