FREMONT, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Mary Rieckmann has owned a dairy farm in Fremont for nearly 60 years.
"In plain language, we'd be done," she said about the possibility of having her utilities disconnected.
But after the last eighteen months, she's afraid her family will lose it all.
"It was a shocker that they [utility company] were gonna just pull the plug and shut off all current," Rieckmann said.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted to end a moratorium on April 15 that prevented utility companies from shutting off service during the pandemic.
While she still owes thousands to keep the farm's lights on, Rieckmann says her life's work will come to an end if the power gets shut off for good.
"Right now, I've got over $5,000 [in unpaid utility bills]," the Hillside Dairy Farm co-owner said. "And I don't have the foggiest idea how in the Sam Hill I'm gonna pay it."
The AP reports utility companiescould disconnect over 93,000 homes in Wisconsin. Rieckmann says the farm and her house are included. Though she owes We Energies, utility company Wisconsin Public Service says they do not know if the dairy producer is exempt from having the barn's electricity cut.
"We wouldn't be able to milk cows," Rieckmann said. "We wouldn't be able to feed them because the silo runs on electric."
But WPS tells Rieckmann 'don't panic.'
"You could have a large bill for whatever reason," WPS Media Relations Manager Brendan Conway. "But if you've contacted us and you've entered into a payment plan, you are not at risk of disconnection."
Still, with thousands in utility bills and a farm that doesn't make a profit, Rieckmann can't help but worry.
"We'd have to... you might as well say give our cows away because there's no price in them at all," she said. "And if we do that, then how do we pay the rest of the bills?"
But while she fears for her future, local financial assistance organizations like Newcap say they'll guide people like Rieckmann through tough times.
"We're gonna help each other," Newcap President and CEO Cheryl Detrick said. "We're gonna get through this and then we're gonna find solutions and walk out of all of this together."
The Brown County-based organization is currently helping renters with financial difficulties in Northeast Wisconsin to pay their utility bills. Governor Tony Evers recently announced more than $300 million in emergency rental and utility assistance.
If you're interested in helping Rieckmann, visit her GoFundMe page.
