This is complete bullshit.

[dinanm3atl]

Yeah I was reading that earlier. Really sad! The Power company should be held liable for this death. What a hard way to go, as your blood started to develop ice crystals. I herd its one of the most painful things to experience.

Why should they be held liable?

1. They put a letter on his DOOR.

2. They sent a letter stating what was going to happen.

3. He had the bill with money attached to it! He must have gotten the notice!


I guess we should blame the company right? I mean he didn't pay his bill which I am sure he, by setting up an account, agreed to pay to use the service.

My last months electric bill was $180 and natural gas $150. It adds up fast...

Minnesota has a law in place to prevent just this sort of thing. The Electric and Gas Companies cannot disconnect service durring the winter months.

Poor guy, I wonder if he had dementia or something?

Seriously?

So then you just don't pay all winter and they will just keep giving free power? What happens in the summer? They shut it off and are forced to turn it back on in the winter?

Why pay at all?

[blunttech]

Why should they be held liable?

1. They put a letter on his DOOR.

2. They sent a letter stating what was going to happen.

3. He had the bill with money attached to it! He must have gotten the notice!


I guess we should blame the company right? I mean he didn't pay his bill which I am sure he, by setting up an account, agreed to pay to use the service.



Seriously?

So then you just don't pay all winter and they will just keep giving free power? What happens in the summer? They shut it off and are forced to turn it back on in the winter?

Why pay at all?

dude i know what youre thinking and part of me agrees. but theres a line.. lets assume this old dude served his country and had nobody to care for him at all. no kids, no wife, no living relatives.. old people lose it and just cant care for themselves at some point. in most cases someone is there to see for their needs. there are circumstances where you cant just say,"fuck him, he knew the bill was due."
i think we should all be responsible for taking care of ourselves but i hope next year when i totally lose it someone pays my heat bill

[Farbin Kaiber]

I'll pay your heat bill, babycakes.

[Huff]

dude i know what youre thinking and part of me agrees. but theres a line.. lets assume this old dude served his country and had nobody to care for him at all. no kids, no wife, no living relatives.. old people lose it and just cant care for themselves at some point. in most cases someone is there to see for their needs. there are circumstances where you cant just say,"fuck him, he knew the bill was due."
i think we should all be responsible for taking care of ourselves but i hope next year when i totally lose it someone pays my heat bill

I agree... It would be really cool to know that gas/ electric companies would take age in to consideration whether it’s by law or widely adopted policy. I’m sure this is a re-occurring problem.

[Farbin Kaiber]

This same thing has happened many times in the past in my hometown area of Palm Springs, Ca. My electric bill has been up as high as 725/mo during the 125 deg summers. There are also lots of "Snowbirds" from up north that come down, and a huge contingent of Seniors. It's worse when they shut off the electricity, and the interior temps get above 160 deg inside.

[Miano]

Sad story. I would hope that someone would have noticed his age and made more of an attempt than a notice in the mail and on the door.

[blunttech]

This same thing has happened many times in the past in my hometown area of Palm Springs, Ca. My electric bill has been up as high as 725/mo during the 125 deg summers. There are also lots of "Snowbirds" from up north that come down, and a huge contingent of Seniors. It's worse when they shut off the electricity, and the interior temps get above 160 deg inside.

i could make a nice meatloaf in that atmosphere

[Farbin Kaiber]

i could make a nice meatloaf in that atmosphere

Ends up dehydrated, like pemmican.

[dinanm3atl]

dude i know what youre thinking and part of me agrees. but theres a line.. lets assume this old dude served his country and had nobody to care for him at all. no kids, no wife, no living relatives.. old people lose it and just cant care for themselves at some point. in most cases someone is there to see for their needs. there are circumstances where you cant just say,"fuck him, he knew the bill was due."
i think we should all be responsible for taking care of ourselves but i hope next year when i totally lose it someone pays my heat bill

I understand what you are saying but where is the 'line'? How much does the cost per unit goes up because anyone over the age of 65 that has a late payment has to get 'checked up on' by someone at the power company?

Do they check when it is late? Then check every day for until it is paid?

It is unfortunate that it happened. I feel sorry for the family and the lose and the city. That looks really bad on the city now. I just can't say we need a special program.

I will say I think my post kind of came off angry and not caring.

[markseven]

going to have to go with you guys on this

+1

[Mtriple]

Seriously?

So then you just don't pay all winter and they will just keep giving free power? What happens in the summer? They shut it off and are forced to turn it back on in the winter?

Why pay at all?

Yeah, its a problem for the utility company with the deadbeats.


***EDIT***

I just looked it up and it looks like you are protected from October 15th to April 15th but you must contact the utility company. They can actually disconnect during the winter if you ignore them. This would not have helped this poor guy... :(

http://www.puc.state.mn.us/PUC/consumers/shut-off-protection/index.html