Duke Power - a heart of tin

I have been a Duke Energy customer for over 10 years. I recently received a notice from Duke, stating that I am now required to pay a $145 deposit, because of what they call “unsatisfactory payment history”. In addition, I am a single father with full custody of 2 young boys aged 8 and 12. I am currently receiving unemployment payments, as I was layed off from my job in December. Times have been tough, but we’re scraping by. Until now. I have been a couple of weeks late on my power bill a few times in these past months. Never to any extreme, and its always paid and service is not suspended. How can Duke Power expect me to pay the $208 bill by Aug 25th?? ($63 + $145 deposit). I have had just enough to pay my normal bill (around $65 each month)I called customer service and after 3 or 4 times of “can I speak to your supervisor”, I gave up. The same speech each time. “Sorry, nothing we can do”. They gave me some local assistance numbers, but when I call them…they can only help with food or whatever….no help with this. What are we to do in this economy where we are dealing with mindless robots who have NO heart or compassion for the problems our current economic situation is causing?? I simply can not pay this extra fee. They give the option of providing a “guarantor” to secure the account, but EVERYONE I talk to, family and friends all do not meet the requirements of having not been 1 day late for the past 12 months. Any comments from anyone on this matter from any others with this experience would be welcome. What do we, as citizens of South Carolina, plan to do about these problems? Are we really at the mercy of monopolys like this? I truely hope not.