Should the electric company be sued?

Or maybe even tried for murder?

http://news.aol.com/article/man-93-freezes-to-death-in-home/318210?icid=200100397x1216884474x1201142334

2009-01-27T06:19:42Z

Panurge - Even though I don't like the idea of complete socialism, I can see in a case like this one where it would be beneficial. In Minnesota we have a rule tha you can't do anything that would turn off the heat in the winter. I guess Michigan doesn't have such rules. I would also hate to be the guy who had to put that limiter on the guys house. Even if this doesn't get tried by any human court of law that person is going to have to live with the grief that he caused somebodies death.

To the first three that answered this question. I only wish he would have let his neighbors and friends know he needed help paying his electric bill. I'm sure people would have pitched in to help him pay it sooner. But he must have been the type of guy who didn't want to ask for help, since the article states he had a wad of cash paper cliped to his electric bill.

2009-01-27T06:24:41Z

Ben the problem is that you have to be careful of when you do things that cut off or limit power to a persons home. We all know electricity isn't a right, but it is part of the equation when it comes to keeping a house heated in the winter time. Maybe when they put the limiter on they should have been more helpful on things he shouldn't use while it was on his home.

2009-01-27T06:27:54Z

Antarctica - I can't help but hope that for them too. However sad it is to admit there are cold hearted people in this world who will always miss the point of psychological question. I only asked it in the GW section due to this is where all the people I know on Yahoo Answers hang out.

Anonymous2009-01-27T08:31:37Z

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We have a responsibility to care for the elderly. After all they cared for us. I've never been a supporter for complete socialistic support, and do not see it as a necessity. As (Jame's) mention most states have not only programs. But also laws that place restrictions on utilities to terminate service to the old, sick, and the working destitute.

http://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/seniors_initiative/disconn.shtml
http://enw.org/Research-GeriTherm.htm

I expect major changes as social and economic problems compound. Whether or not it becomes a beneficial service or another bureaucratic blunder....remains to be seen.

As far as suing the utility company... "I'm against the way it was resolved."

Anonymous2009-01-27T06:39:16Z

i know that here in Kalifornia, at least where i have lived in the general LA area where SCE and the Gas company operate there are special rates and provisions made for qualifying elderly and low income families just for this reason. I am not sure but I think there is a small charge on all bills in order to help cover the costs of the program. In snow country i would think a program of this sort would be more critical than it would be here in sun city where it rarely gets under 50 even on cold nights!

JimZ2009-01-27T08:37:33Z

I wouldn't think the electric company should be sued but there should be certain mechanism to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen. He was 93 and perhaps he simply made poor decisions. My wife's parents are very wealthy but they seem to prefer to shiver than turn the heater on. I could see that happening to them if they didn't live in Southern California.

Anonymous2009-01-27T09:48:12Z

Nope, the global warming believers should be sued, that guy probably thought he'd be fine because of the unseasonably warm winter we're having.

But it's BS. Nobody in Michigan heats with electricity. Really.. it's too cold.

Ben O2009-01-27T06:11:55Z

It is tragic when someone freezes to death in their own home, but what can you do? Electricity isn't a right, you have to pay for it.

The poor guy probably didn't know how to reset the cut off switch. I suppose in this case, the death could have been prevented if the cut off switch reset itself automatically after a time delay.

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