People line up for false-promises

New Haven (WTNH) - The prospect of people getting their electric bill paid for them had people lining up in New Haven Wednesday morning. But once they got there, they found out that it was all an alleged hoax and now they're 'Counting on 8' for help.

The line snaked outside the church parking lot and down the corner; folks clutched their bills after they heard someone was going to pay.

"They said they were going to pay our light bill, pay your bill for you, the higher the better," said Donnette McKenzie of New Haven.

The sign on the door read "Energy Assistance Program."

"We don't have people giving us concrete information," said Tamika McKinnie of New Haven.

Even New Haven officers are trying to get to the bottom of it all. A representative for United Energy Partners had arranged the event to sign up people to switch their electrical provider.

News Channel 8 sat down with the company's president; she said independent contractors are given liberty to get the word out, even meet  with folks at a local Burger King, but there are no promises to pay bills.

"Absolutley not. We cannot pay anyone's UI bills," said President Erika Diaz.

After some had stood here for three hours, police told them to head home because the bill was still theirs.

"We were told originally they were going to pay the UI bill but now we get here [and] they're trying to get you to switch companies," said an unidentified man.

United Energy Partners is licensed with the state and the Department of Utility Control [DPUC] said they have no complaints about them.

Meanwhile, United Illuminating said it has been flooded with phone calls.