proof times are tough.... very very sad.

[Blue Skys]

Maybe the autospy will show that he passed away from somthing else, and then was froze. Things are not always black and white, right and wrong, you have to consider more than what the newspaper says.

If neighbors found him, like the article said, then it seems he did have people looking out for him. Maybe not all the information was in the article...

Again, I'm not saying it isn't horrible.

 

[Vcomb]

wow....you know there was a time I read something like this, several years ago....it was in Russia.....is that where we are headed....

my grandma lives a lil over a mile north of us in an old farmhouse by herself. her driveway is over 1/4 mile long and its surrounded by cornfields, so the roads drift shut. Its an old house, sometimes the phone wires don't work. She's had her electricity shut off a time or two, or run out of propane to heat the house. Luckily during winter especially we're over there most everyday either plowing the road open or butchering. my sis works at a grocery store and used to bring her her groceries, but after awhile she was told she was not allowed to bring in grandma's signed checks and buy groceries with them, that she had to be present for the check to be used.

....somedays i wonder about our species.........

 

[MayberrySaint]

I agree with those that say it is not the electric company is not responsibility for his death. They have thousands of customers and cannot possible know that a certain individual is in frail health and may die if they have no heat. The failure here lies in our social system that did not provide the proper assistance and support to a 93 yr old man. Where was the family, neighbors, friends, etc.? There are many programs that provide utility assistance to the under-priveleged.

 

[ksacres]

That's terrible. Even more terrible is that no one knew he needed help, or if they didn't they didn't reach out to him.

The power company isn't the only responsible party here folks. Surely he had neighbors, or someONE that knew.

 

[MayberrySaint]

Quote:
The article I read on MSN yesterday afternoon said that when emergency people entered the home they found his utility bills on his kitchen table with the money to pay each paperclipped to the bills. He had the means, not the way. I agree with BuckeyeLady.... we need to be aware of folks around us.... a nightly check in phone call may have made all the difference in this man's life.

Sometimes folks don't know what help is available to them or even that there is help available at all.... or where to start to get help.

Why didn't the utility company call social services??? Easy answer...it is not their business to do that. Heck, they might even get sued if they did that to the wrong person...
Folks may not know what help is available, but I think everyone knows how to dial 911 in an emergency. A home below 32 degrees would definitely be considered an emergency and then social services would become involved.

 

[smom1976]

Quote:
yes they have thosands of customers..

but...

they have your birthdate and my birthdate and his birthdate.. they use computers.. there should be some type of computer "flags" that pop up notifying that he is in his 90's.. .. even a collection call from the electric company might have solved this issue.

 

[MissPrissy]

There once was a time when rural electric would collect at the back door. I know I have paid mine that way for years and years when I first out on my own in Ga. Due to employees stealing the money they stopped doing those little favors for people. Too bad someone couldn't collect the payment he had ready when they put the thingy on his meter.

 

[gudrin]

I know in Minnesota there is a law that prohibits gas, oil, electric companies, etc. from declining service to those who need it for heat during the winter. I think it's from October to April or somewhere in there. I don't know if this is a federal law or not, I just know it exists here in Minnesota. Does Michigan have a similar thing?

That said, I think it's a sad thing that happened. I also agree with Miss Prissy that we need to be connecting with our neighbors more often. Around here good deeds are just seen as the usual thing to do, and you repay your neighbors in kind someday. Maybe it's just the Minnesota "Nice" but that's the way it is.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
Most electric companies have a 'form' that must be on file for people who cannot be without heat/electricity (those who do home dialysis and are on respirators etc). Any of the papers I have ever seen in person require documents from doctors to be on file as well.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

Quote:
Most electric companies have a 'form' that must be on file for people who cannot be without heat/electricity (those who do home dialysis and are on respirators etc). Any of the papers I have ever seen in person require documents from doctors to be on file as well.

its a hardship form.
So that those that might have a problem paying for electricity/heat dont get shut off due to non payment. and that those with family that need respirators etc dont get shut off. Here it is from October 31 til mid April. Although a few years ago they extended it to mid May

From what I understand there has been a overwhelming flood of these in New England this year.