Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

http://www.wnem.com/news/18566890/detail.html

This is the kind of world we're living in...where a WWII veteran, 93 yrs old, dies when the electric company cuts his power, so he froze to death. They say he owed more than $1000 in debt to the power company...however the only attempts to speak to him about it was a letter and a posted notice on his door.

After his death, a utility bill was found on his kitchen table along with "a large sum of money".
The poor ol' guy intended to pay the bill, but did not live long enough to do it. At 93 years old, I would imagine he might have needed some help.

I hate hearing about these kinds of things.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

I hate hearing about them too. The only sadder thing will be the pathetic excuses coming from the utility and the city as to why this happened.

Rest in peace, Mr Schur...

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Now that's a tragedy. But as easy as it is to blame the big bad electric company, I think the neighbors need to share just a little of the blame. They knew there was a 93 year old man across the street, the weather was freezing, and just by looking out a window they would've seen there were no lights on in his house.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Neighbours, family and the man himself are all to blame. If you can't afford to pay the bill, move to an apartment, or rent a room; or get into a shelter even. I would guess there's a "degree" of pride here, on the man's part, that lead to the death as well.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Right, the electric company has no business or obligation to check up on every customer that has no paid their bill. They do have a legal right to terminate that service, however. As sad as it is, we should ask where were his kids or relatives, as opposed to where was the electric company and why didn't they send doctors to his door?

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

The mans wife already died and he had no children. While the neighbors may take some of the blame. How about a policy of not shuting off the heating source during the winter months from October to March. Do there shut offs in the April to September range.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

It's a business though. Winter is their best season financially. Do you know how many people would pay late or not at all during those months if they knew they had immunity to disconnection.

People are barking up the wrong tree even involving the utility company. Emotionally, we want to point the finger at them - for simply doing what they said they'd do when they went into business, but no judge would ever entertain such a notion.

If he had no family, then the government fucked up but also, if he did not apply for government assistance, how could they know? Why didn't he pick up the phone to organise making a late payment? It takes 5 minutes. They don't disconnect you until a few days after due date. If he couldn't pick up the phone he should have had a provider from the state to do it. So something is wrong somewhere, but it ain't with the utility company.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

In the article I had read, they didn't shut off the power. They'd installed a limiter, like a master circuit-breaker that would cut out anytime he used more than a minimal allowance of power. I don't know what the limit was, but I suspect it would have been enough to keep the temperature at a liveable level, if not necesarily a cozy one. Apparently the device had cut out and he didn't know how to reset the device.

article

Further reading of the article posted by Larry tells me that they leave the limiter there for 10 days then just cut the power. If the neighbors suspected something wasn't quite right they should have checked up on it. But then the term neighbor is used much more loosely now than it used to be. Used to be a neighbor wasn't just the guy who lived next to you, but someone you knew, conversed with, and helped/got help from.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

I find quotes like this funny. Although it most likely has to do with making the extra buck before year end. Not sure if it is traded or not as it is city run so shareholders may or may not be a factor. But the ironic thing is I don't think it is any easier to get there money back after the guy freezes to death and is dead.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

..maybe they were trying to "freeze" his assets?

We had the same thing here last year. Something needs to be done for sure. It does fall to both sides though.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Which sounds almost logical in theory, but in practice, they don't seem to like it. Otherwise they'd be doing what you suggested.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

/Facepalm

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

<font color="plum">I have several thoughts on this story.

First, I don't speak enough languages to sufficiently curse power companies. I had my own confrontations with our local company and the only viable solution for dealing with them involves two uzi's and a chainsaw.

The main thing I learned when I challenged the power company is that there is no regulation over them. The state level says it's the responsibility of the town. The town says they have no authority over the power company. The translation is that the power company is a serious revenue machine and the no gov't body is gonna mess with the candy wagon. So power companies have free reign to do what they want.

Yes, they jack the prices up in the winter over and above what your actual "usage" would be.
Yes, they threaten to shut off your power if don't pay your bill (OR if you are dumbass enough to challenge them) and
Yes, they can do this with impunity because no authority is gonna go against them.

I've also been in the home of an elderly war veteran who had to wear several layers of clothes, his winter coat and his gloves inside his house because he couldn't afford to pay his bill if he turned on his heat. Fortunately for him, this guy DOES have a neighbor that checks on him every day to make sure everything is alright.

As for gov't assistance, the ONLY option available is help buying heating oil, and that comes in the form of a one time check each winter - IF you apply in time AND there is enough money to pay out. Even in assisted living and public housing, electricity is still part of your rent (your rent covers the housing and utilities together). The lowest rate available at our local housing complex is more than $400/month. While that's a good price for rent, electric and phone, it's still a big chunk for someone on a fixed income that probably has meds to buy each month too.

As for the evil incarnate power company themselves, the bottom line is that they did apparantly give this guy some warning and some chances to pay his bill. Power companies can typically disconnect your power if your payment is one day late. Realistically, they usually give you at least 32 days (because they also usually have a deposit on hand to cover one month payment). So if you go 1 month and 1 day, then your facing a real threat of losing power. The power company is in a position of absolute...well, "power"...because they know you HAVE to have electricity and power companies do NOT cross each other's territories, so each one has a monopoly in their area.

That being said, it sounds like they gave this guy at least 2 (and maybe even 3) months of non-payment first. Then put the restrictor on the house as a last ditch effort before turning off the power. As much as I hate to say it, it sounds like the power company did actually go a little soft on this guy before finally turning off the power.

Also, at least some of the neighbors knew what was going on. They were aware his power bill hadn't been paid and the company had put a restrictor on his house. It seems like someone could have stepped up to organize a fundraiser for the guy or found someone to give him a place to stay until the bill was paid.

It's a tragic situation and I avidly hate power companies in general, but it sounds like they did what they could this time, short of just turning a blind eye to the bill. While that would have been an incredibly humanitarian thing to do, it very well could lead to even more people just deciding to not pay their bills.</font>

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

<font color="plum">Then he would die of heatstroke in August instead of hypothermia in January. Not much of a difference.</font>

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Yes, the company did nothing wrong. His home was, in fact, heated by a gas furnace according to reports, but the lack of electricity can make them work improperly.

The electric company has now suspended all disconnections, and removed all of the devices they have on customer units. Above and beyond the call of duty for a retail electric provider IMO.

That man, who was apparently suffering from early dementia, should have had a provider sent by the state. Even if it was to simply check up on him for 20 mins a day. I am reading these reports about people not knowing who to be angry at in this case. I can tell them it ain't the light company. The state is the first issue, another veteran forgotten by the government. But then, how were they to know how people are faring, if they have help from family or friends? Well, the next issue is the neighbours, who never even suggested he get some government aid.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

There's an update to this story.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/04/fre...olo/index.html

It is thought that he actually had a lot of money that he has willed over to a local hospital.
At this time, they cannot confirm how much he had, but it is rumored to be a large amount.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Man who froze to death left $600,000.00
I'll bet the neighbors are really kicking themselves now for not being friendlier to the old man...

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

At this point, I would say he wanted to die.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

This sounds more like good old cheapness than frugality to me.

I don't want to take a p*ss at a recently deceases man, but there might be an element of pride and cheapness involved here ("I'm not paying those bastards!"). He obviously had the means to pay the electric company, but didn't.

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

<font color="cyan">I really don't think anyone is to blame except the man himself.

He obviously had the money to, but didnt.

I agree with Stratos, probably a case of being stubborn.</font>

Re: Man dies of hypothermia in his own home
 

Uhh, 'xcuse me, I believe "I" said it first. :)