93 year old man FREEZES TO DEATH INDOORS because electric was cut off

First, I can't imagine why they'd let him get so far behind on his bills and then wait till the middle of winter...in Michigan of all places...to do anything about it. What a terrible way to die and knowing that he suffered so much makes it worse. I hope that those ppl at the electric company are proud of themselves... [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG AND TRUST IN GOD**[/b]

horrible. unfortunately, the older generation doesnt always have "family" theyre cast aside and ignored as if they never existed. and if this man had no one.. no one wil try to hold the eletric company liable, and their policies will prolly never change. here in mass.. they wont shut off if you have a child under the age of 1.. after that, if you cant pay, they dont give damn.

It is really sad that this old man lost his life because of poverty. I feel the utility company acted inhumanely in turning off his electricity supply, but then again it may be difficult to pin the blame on them because they were just following their rules about keeping the supply on for households with large unpaid bills. But since they knew about such cases of unpaid bills, I feel they should have alerted the authorities or some welfare organizations to look into such cases to see if some assistance should be rendered. If their plight was made known, their financial situation could have been helped and they need not have to suffer in silence or lose their lives like that. It is also sad that in this case, no relatives of his came to his assistance..maybe he had no relatives, or his relatives had deserted him.

That is awful what a horrible way to die. I think that the electricity company is partly to blame in this surely they should have made an effort to contact the elderly man to see if they could arrange a payment plan for him. It sounds like that they made no effort to contact him at all to explain what was going to happen. You would think they would be more understanding as many people are struggling with bill at the moment.

Oh that is so bad with economy like it is this day and time some elderly people just dont have any money,they have to choose between food,medicine,heat.But these places dont care.Yes where was his family.This just makes me so mad when we get old we get thrown out with the garbage.

thats horrible. the family would definately be lookin for someone to blame. that would be terrible for the old man.. cold alone and in the dark slowly dying. heart goes out to him

Someone should have been looking after that poor old man! Either he was a recluse and hid from the world without friends or relatives, or was suspicious of strangers or too senile to get the help he needed, because there are many, many places to go to get help for anything including your utilities! Even a doctor will sign a form for the gas and electric companies for them NOT to turn off the heat! I know, my 76 year old mother has gone through that many times and he could have also gotten on HEAP or PIP so he wouldn't have to lose any of his utilities, EVER! I bet he didn't know there was any help out there for him, the poor thing, this should NOT have happened! I think the electric company should have sent someone around to talk to the man. They had to know how old he was!

I think during winter months they gas and electric companies need to be more understanding and when they know it is an elderly person they should call social services and tell them the elderly persons bill has not been paid that they may need financial assistance. may seniors have no money to get medications or eat. This a shame and a horrible tradgedy. Now I do not think the electric or gas company is responsible. But morally I think they should always check up on seniors. Even during the summer a lot of elderly people die from the heat.

This is so ridiculous!!!! the electric comapny should answer this.That is in my opinion. They know that the owner of the house is an old man,why they could not give any consideration? whey they blame the neighbors for not checking what happen to other neighbors? Well, it is really hard when you are getting old. No body cares for you. Here in the Philippines, the old will be taken care of by their relatvies and they will not live alone. There no snow and cold weather also in country so, something like this is not common.

I am so sorry that something like this had to happen for people to have their eyes opened as to what is happening around us. There are people out there that need help and some too proud to ask. I think the electric company should have some sort of system in place that would indicate that a person is over a certain age and that no matter what, the electricity should stay on. They should send a rep out periodically to check on the situation. I hope that this will help us all remember to check on our elderly neighbors. God Bless everyone who does!

That is just AWFUL and makes me very angry! Depending on the area in which he lives, there is a great likelihood that the electric company did not know how old he was, though I am sure it is somewhere on his account. I guess they don't go through it to see their ages in order to help. It is truly sad and I perhaps he had some other issues that prevented him from making a rational decision to call for help. Unfortunately, too many times, even family leaves our elderly to fend for themselves. It pisses me off. I have a 93 year old grandmother next door. Though we live in deep South Texas, when her heater went out a few weeks ago, we were out buying her heaters until the company could come make the necessary repairs. I'm glad we live so close to her.

thats horrible! how could someone do something this low. i'd sue the electric company. he's old and probably was retired and had health issues its not his fault he couldnt afford to pay the bills. how dare you let this poor man die!! thats just sad.

Michigan always makes for the greatest news. *sigh* They found a bill in his home with the money paper clipped to it. There are programs to help people but here's the problem people don't know how to find them, there are too many people who need them without enough money, and the companies don't want to work with people. This is only going to get sadder. There are going to be more and more of these.

It's horrible , they shouldn't cut out the electricity in bad weather , the guy was tortured with cold. I think the family will blame the Electricity company

holy shyt! .... fo real?...dayum...tats mad sad!

that is so tragic...there is no consideration? that if it is winter..they could like not cut it off right away since it is a necessity..that is so sad...

I wish I thought that this would be the last story I heard like this winter, but I don't. It always seems that each year there are several stories like this. I don't know if the electric company should be at fault. I mean how much information do they know about their clients unless the client provides them with the information. For example, here, if you have children or are disabled, utility companies will give you a certain amount of leeway if you can't meet your amount due. But you have to contact them and tell them that is the situation. I'm in the camp of where was his family? Where was his landlord and neighbors? Didn't anyone who knew the man ever think to check up one him? That is where I think the crime in this situation is.

That's horrible. How could they do that to a 93 year old man. They should have waited until it was a bit nicer out until they actually cut his electricity off.

According to rules the electric company shud have informed him many times that may be his fault but now no use they losed the person and also the bill....the cmpy may get mney in difernt form but they cann't get the person that shud be identified

According to the customs the company shud have informed many times...there might be the wrong but now the man has losed his life is they going to get bill now or the man they lost both,if the person is there then it is possible to get some amount from him some day.....by this the family is mostly losed....