I. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOKLET

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The purpose of this booklet is to educate tenants and their advocates about how tenants can get and keep utility service. This booklet deals with gas and electricity used in tenants' apartments and buildings. It does not deal with utility service to businesses or with telephone service.

Public utility problems seem complicated, but often they can be easily solved. If you have a problem, call the utility company. They will usually work with you to prevent termination of your service. The most important advice for anyone with a utility problem is to deal with the problem quickly and persistently.

This booklet is written for Brooklyn tenants, but most of the information in it can also be used by residents of the other boroughs in New York City. Since this booklet will be updated only occasionally, and since phone numbers, procedures and laws change frequently, some of this information may not be completely accurate at the time you read this. Legal references should be used carefully and only after consulting an attorney.