[Brent85]

The city should have been more "hands on" in this situation, and used common sense. It's a 93yr old. Knock on the door, find a way to enter the house legaly, and help him out. Don't just cut the power off, that's certain death this time of year.......

[jsejcm]

I am sure they did not know it was a 93 old man when they shut the power off, all they see is a name on a bill. What is the company supposed to do? If people know they're not going to shut the power off, why would anyone pay their bill? Its very sad but not the fault of the city or power company.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Brent85

The city should have been more "hands on" in this situation, and used common sense. It's a 93yr old. Knock on the door, find a way to enter the house legaly, and help him out. Don't just cut the power off, that's certain death this time of year.......

Are you willing to pay more on YOUR bill for this extended service????
The cost would have to come from someplace.

[Cliffie]

If he didn't have the money, he didn't have the money!

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

If he didn't have the money, he didn't have the money!

There are programs out there for this. More for senors than anyone. This was a long process, not one bill. In fact it was not turned off, it had a restrictive device on it.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Maybe it was a suicide. But that doesn't make it OK to shut a guy's power off when it's 15 degrees outside.

How long should power companies go without being paid before they shut off your power? It can get cold enough in May at night to kill someone. If utility companies across the board allowed everyone and anyone to not pay their power bills through the winter, imagine the catastrophe it would cause. We'd all be without power.

The problem isn't his power being shut off, the problem is that he was living alone and should have been in nursing care (if he couldn't handle his affairs).

It's a shock headline to illicit a response to a problem that doesn't really exist (population wide). We have a habit lately in society to turn individual issues into "causes."

[malamute]

Yes, government cannot act as a substitute for caring relatives, friends, and neighbors, church members. It would not have taken too much for neighbors, his church, or relatives to stop in and check on him.

[Drouzin]

This is so pitiful. The man had no children from what I have read and apparently they found the money attached to the bill inside the home. I imagine he may have been afraid of breaking a hip leaving the house, or something like that, and figured he could wait it out.

I hope after reading this article it would influence someone to check on an elderly neighbor.

[Bluefly]

geez. you all are harsh.

There is an "unwritten" rule in Marquette that the utility never turns power off in the winter, no matter what. They don't advertise it, but it's cold and cold kills - no matter what.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by malamute

Yes, government cannot act as a substitute for caring relatives, friends, and neighbors, church members. It would not have taken too much for neighbors, his church, or relatives to stop in and check on him.

Some people don't have any of those resources.