[Driller1]

Originally Posted by 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.

This was a bill for $1100. That did not happen just this winter.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Some people don't have any of those resources.

Are you saying that makes the utility companies responsible for them???

[Bluefly]

My point was that, no matter what, there are utility companies in cold climates that will NOT turn power off in the winter. Whether the person owes $1 or $100,000.

This is not some ideological stand on the nature of economics and the role of government. It's human life.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

My point was that, no matter what, there are utility companies in cold climates that will NOT turn power off in the winter. Whether the person owes $1 or $100,000.

This is not some ideological stand on the nature of economics and the role of government. It's human life.

Utilites sell produces. If you do not pay for them, they have to do something. Are YOU willing to pay more yourself so this does not happen???

[Driller1]

Myself I would be willing to pay $10 more a month on my electric bill to see this does not happen again. Anyone else???

[wanderer74]

Yes, I would be willing to pay more on my bill each month to see that this doesn't happen again also. But what I really want to see is a law in Michigan that power can not be shut off in the middle of winter. I've heard that there may indeed be such a law and the power company in this case was trying to go around that by installing a limiter - the only problem is that the utility company did not explain to the man how the limiter worked (and not having had one, I wouldn't have known either - but at least I have the mental faculties to call and find out, which apparently this man did not).

As for whether or not this is an isolated incident that affects few being turned into a cause, I wholeheartedly disagree. If anything I think this highlights the problem that there are a lot of seniors living alone who maybe aren't capable of taking care of themselves, but don't have anyone looking in on them. Like it or not, we have become a society where most people don't know their neighbors, many people don't go to a church and children may live too far away to help. If we're going to expect people to look after one another then all of society needs to change so that doing so becomes the norm again rather than the exception.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Are you saying that makes the utility companies responsible for them???

No, I'm saying that nobody knew there was a problem until the guy's windows frosted over. That suggests a pretty nonexistent support system. And you can't ask a person to wave a wand in the air and produce caring helpers -- if he could do that he'd already have 'em.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by wanderer74

Yes, I would be willing to pay more on my bill each month to see that this doesn't happen again also. But what I really want to see is a law in Michigan that power can not be shut off in the middle of winter. I've heard that there may indeed be such a law and the power company in this case was trying to go around that by installing a limiter - the only problem is that the utility company did not explain to the man how the limiter worked (and not having had one, I wouldn't have known either - but at least I have the mental faculties to call and find out, which apparently this man did not).

As for whether or not this is an isolated incident that affects few being turned into a cause, I wholeheartedly disagree. If anything I think this highlights the problem that there are a lot of seniors living alone who maybe aren't capable of taking care of themselves, but don't have anyone looking in on them. Like it or not, we have become a society where most people don't know their neighbors, many people don't go to a church and children may live too far away to help. If we're going to expect people to look after one another then all of society needs to change so that doing so becomes the norm again rather than the exception.

There IS a law in Michigan but, this was a city owned company. There is a good article on MI LIVE. I could not get it to post.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

No, I'm saying that nobody knew there was a problem until the guy's windows frosted over. That suggests a pretty nonexistent support system. And you can't ask a person to wave a wand in the air and produce caring helpers -- if he could do that he'd already have 'em.

Then what to you want??? Old age police?? I have old neighbors that would shoot them.

[wanderer74]

Originally Posted by Driller1

There IS a law in Michigan but, this was a city owned company. There is a good article on MI LIVE. I could not get it to post.

So unless city law trumps state law, wouldn't that mean that the utility company broke the law?