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Consumers Energy - Cut Off Power to 86 Year Old Man
Utility Supplier - Complaint
Review by old fart on 2012-02-20
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MICHIGAN -- Today, Flint MI police checked a car parked in the driveway of a Flint MI. home.
It was occupied by a DEAD senior citizen whose Power was shut off the previous day by Consumers power for non payment of a 261 dollar power bill.
He was simply trying to stay warm in 15 degree weather.
A 260 dollar amount is not uncommon in Michigan in January or February.
Consumers "says" that they don't cut off winter power to seniors in the winter...
BOOOLCRAP!!
It was occupied by a DEAD senior citizen whose Power was shut off the previous day by Consumers power for non payment of a 261 dollar power bill.
He was simply trying to stay warm in 15 degree weather.
A 260 dollar amount is not uncommon in Michigan in January or February.
Consumers "says" that they don't cut off winter power to seniors in the winter...
BOOOLCRAP!!
Comments:
Posted by GenuineNerd on 2012-02-20:
Michael Moore needs to know about this...he could include this story in his next movie.
Posted by old fart on 2012-02-20:
Amen Nerd!
Posted by Gotta let them know.. on 2012-02-20:
Did the power company know he was a senior citizen? Did he call them? Does the power company ask a persons age when they sign up? With proof of age, I'm fairly sure they would leave it on, ours does.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2012-02-20:
This is the same company that cut a women's power off because her payment was ONE PENNY short! I'm not sure when this happened, but it happened!
FLINT, Mich. - It was just a penny, but to Consumers Energy it was enough to cut off power in a local home. Jacqueline Williams, 41, of Flint had an electricity bill of $1,662.08 and paid all of it, except for one cent. That wasn't enough for the power company, which blacked her out for seven hours Wednesday.
The CMS Energy Corp. subsidiary told Williams the power would not be turned on until the penny was received.
"I went down there, paid my penny and got a receipt," Williams told The Flint Journal.
Shortly after, the electricity was turned back on.
"All of this for one penny," said Williams, who went to the state Department of Human Services for help in April and was told the agency would pay most of the bill.
But she was still short more than $500.
Williams, a Social Security recipient, went to the Salvation Army, where she received $430.67, and Consumers agreed to match $430.66 toward the bill.
However, she was still one cent short.
A Consumers Energy spokesman said that the utility had no choice in the matter, though he was not aware of any similar incidents where service was stopped for one cent.
"This was the first one I've heard about," said Terry DeDoes. He said the company has many programs to help people who fall behind in their utility bills.
Williams said she doesn't want to find herself in the same situation again.
"I'm praying to God I stay on top of my bills," she said.
FLINT, Mich. - It was just a penny, but to Consumers Energy it was enough to cut off power in a local home. Jacqueline Williams, 41, of Flint had an electricity bill of $1,662.08 and paid all of it, except for one cent. That wasn't enough for the power company, which blacked her out for seven hours Wednesday.
The CMS Energy Corp. subsidiary told Williams the power would not be turned on until the penny was received.
"I went down there, paid my penny and got a receipt," Williams told The Flint Journal.
Shortly after, the electricity was turned back on.
"All of this for one penny," said Williams, who went to the state Department of Human Services for help in April and was told the agency would pay most of the bill.
But she was still short more than $500.
Williams, a Social Security recipient, went to the Salvation Army, where she received $430.67, and Consumers agreed to match $430.66 toward the bill.
However, she was still one cent short.
A Consumers Energy spokesman said that the utility had no choice in the matter, though he was not aware of any similar incidents where service was stopped for one cent.
"This was the first one I've heard about," said Terry DeDoes. He said the company has many programs to help people who fall behind in their utility bills.
Williams said she doesn't want to find herself in the same situation again.
"I'm praying to God I stay on top of my bills," she said.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-20:
What a Greedy dreadful company. Having a person freeze their arse off over a penny.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-20:
A lot of different groups sure came together to pay that woman's huge power bill; it's a shame they couldn't get their act together to pay it all at the same time.
But I guess that now that she's invoking God himself for help with her bills, I'm sure everything will be just fine.
But I guess that now that she's invoking God himself for help with her bills, I'm sure everything will be just fine.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-20:
Each state has a program that prevents utility companies from shutting services off during certain periods of the year. However, you must qualify for those programs. It is not just applied to everyone across the board.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/utility_and_heating_disconnect.html
Michigan - Winter Protection Plan is in effect from November to March for elderly 65 years or older, recipients of Food Stamps, Medicaid, or Department of Human Services cash assistance, full time active military personnel or persons needing critical medical or health care or having a certified medical emergency. Households must be enrolled in a payment plan. In addition, year-round protection from shut-off is available to all residential customers regardless of their household income with an initial down payment of 10 percent of a customer's total utility or heating bill and a monthly budget plan. Disconnection delay is also called for of 21 days with medical certificate if health of household member would be adversely affected from the disconnection. Certification may be renewed another 42 days. Due date for utility bills extended to 22 days.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/utility_and_heating_disconnect.html
Michigan - Winter Protection Plan is in effect from November to March for elderly 65 years or older, recipients of Food Stamps, Medicaid, or Department of Human Services cash assistance, full time active military personnel or persons needing critical medical or health care or having a certified medical emergency. Households must be enrolled in a payment plan. In addition, year-round protection from shut-off is available to all residential customers regardless of their household income with an initial down payment of 10 percent of a customer's total utility or heating bill and a monthly budget plan. Disconnection delay is also called for of 21 days with medical certificate if health of household member would be adversely affected from the disconnection. Certification may be renewed another 42 days. Due date for utility bills extended to 22 days.
Posted by old fart on 2012-02-20:
Tonight I will pay particular attention to the news. There may be more details involving the case..
Posted by Cwazychicken on 2012-02-20:
My mother has heat assistance with state of south dakota. If her furnace breaks, weatherization has moved her to the top to make sure shes ok during the winter. This company had no right to do this to an elderly man like this. It is a shame he couldn't get state assitance, he probably could've qualified.
Posted by Venice09 on 2012-02-20:
"Williams, a Social Security recipient, went to the Salvation Army, where she received $430.67, and Consumers agreed to match $430.66 toward the bill."
It doesn't make sense that Consumers would match $430.67 and then turn off the power over one cent. Is it possible this is computer generated with no regard for people and their situations? It's hard to believe that a human made the decision to turn off a customer's power because payment was one cent short.
It doesn't make sense that Consumers would match $430.67 and then turn off the power over one cent. Is it possible this is computer generated with no regard for people and their situations? It's hard to believe that a human made the decision to turn off a customer's power because payment was one cent short.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-02-21:
This is a disgrace. Obama is sending billions (our tax dollars) in foreign aide to our "friends" in Pakistan and other third world countries who hate us. Yet a senior American citizen freezes to death because of a delinquent $261 utility bill?? Hello? Charity begins at home. This should have never happened. Why was this utility company allowed to do this? Sure the money was owed but is involuntary manslaughter the answer? They should be criminally charged. As a former Philly resident the utility companies are prohibited from cutting off service in the winter, no matter how much is owed. The city of Flint needs to adopt a similar policy.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-21:
The family if this man should Sue Consumers Energy.
Posted by onlooker on 2012-02-21:
This could be seen as a sad commentary on the entire community that this man was involved with. It becomes tragic when help could have been available. So like what have you done today to ensure it will not happen to someone else?
Posted by CowboyFan on 2012-02-21:
The OP should not complain without all the facts. The Flint Journal states:
"John Morgan, 86, was found dead in his truck by his neighbors Monday morning, Flint Police Sgt. Jeff Collins said.
The cause of death is still unknown, but it does not appear to be suspicious, Collins added. An autopsy will be performed.
Consumers Energy representative Debra Dodd confirmed that the electricity to Morgan's home at 730 E. Parkway Ave. on the city's north side was turned off Friday. Dodd said the house still had natural gas service.
Dodd said company representatives went to Morgan's home prior to shutting off the electricity but were unable to make contact with anybody.
Collins could not say if the utility company's decision to turn off Morgan's electricity played any role in the man's death.
Seniors may contact Consumers Energy to have their utility account coded to prevent shutoff during the winter, Dodd said. She added that Morgan was never identified as a senior citizen by the company."
So: 1) Man was never identified or signed up as a senior citizen to prevent power being cut off;
2) Man still had natural gas service, which one would assume is how he heated the house;
3) Electric company went there, no one home; and
3) He was found in truck, may have had heart attack etc., when coming back from store.
"John Morgan, 86, was found dead in his truck by his neighbors Monday morning, Flint Police Sgt. Jeff Collins said.
The cause of death is still unknown, but it does not appear to be suspicious, Collins added. An autopsy will be performed.
Consumers Energy representative Debra Dodd confirmed that the electricity to Morgan's home at 730 E. Parkway Ave. on the city's north side was turned off Friday. Dodd said the house still had natural gas service.
Dodd said company representatives went to Morgan's home prior to shutting off the electricity but were unable to make contact with anybody.
Collins could not say if the utility company's decision to turn off Morgan's electricity played any role in the man's death.
Seniors may contact Consumers Energy to have their utility account coded to prevent shutoff during the winter, Dodd said. She added that Morgan was never identified as a senior citizen by the company."
So: 1) Man was never identified or signed up as a senior citizen to prevent power being cut off;
2) Man still had natural gas service, which one would assume is how he heated the house;
3) Electric company went there, no one home; and
3) He was found in truck, may have had heart attack etc., when coming back from store.
Posted by Churro on 2012-02-21:
"Man still had natural gas service, which one would assume is how he heated the house; "
I have NG and I know my heater WILL NOT work without electricity. My oven won't work either but interestingly enough my water heater will which I don't think will heat the house.
Eh, I don't care about the CYA efforts and the damage control. What's not in dispute is an 86 year old man's electricity was shut off on a 15 degree day over a $261 bill. Spin it however you want and devil advocate it to death but in the end doesn't change the only relevant fact.
What have we become?
I have NG and I know my heater WILL NOT work without electricity. My oven won't work either but interestingly enough my water heater will which I don't think will heat the house.
Eh, I don't care about the CYA efforts and the damage control. What's not in dispute is an 86 year old man's electricity was shut off on a 15 degree day over a $261 bill. Spin it however you want and devil advocate it to death but in the end doesn't change the only relevant fact.
What have we become?
Posted by Slimjim on 2012-02-21:
It's all about whether a unit has electronic ignition or a pilot light. Many heaters, hot water tanks and gas appliances usually come either way. A pilot light model will run without electricity, but burn more fuel. A pilotless model saves by having no standing pilot, but needs an electronic glow bar to fire up.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-21:
My natural gas heat system won't work without electricity either.
As sad as it is for anyone to have their power shut off in the middle of winter, if a person doesn't sign up for their state's assistance program, I can't blame the power company for his death. What makes someone 86 yrs old any more eligible to have their power left on, then say a struggling college student working a min wage job and they are unable to afford a $260/bill?
As sad as it is for anyone to have their power shut off in the middle of winter, if a person doesn't sign up for their state's assistance program, I can't blame the power company for his death. What makes someone 86 yrs old any more eligible to have their power left on, then say a struggling college student working a min wage job and they are unable to afford a $260/bill?
Posted by CowboyFan on 2012-02-21:
When we sign up for electricity, we agree to pay the bill. There are programs to protect people, who may be in life threatening situations without their electricity, such as not cutting off seniors during winter. If the 86 year old man did not sign up for such a program, it is hardly the electric company's fault the electricity was cut off FOR HIS FAILURE TO PAY HIS BILL.
That does not mean it is not a sad situation. It is not right, however, to blame the electric company for cutting off power WHEN HE DID NOT PAY HIS BILL and HE DID NOT NOTIFY THEM AND SIGN UP FOR ASSISTANCE. Is the electric company suppose to not cut off anyone's electricity during the winter? For them to have avoided this situation, that would have had to be their policy, since they were not informed the man was 86 nor did he sign up for their program.
That does not mean it is not a sad situation. It is not right, however, to blame the electric company for cutting off power WHEN HE DID NOT PAY HIS BILL and HE DID NOT NOTIFY THEM AND SIGN UP FOR ASSISTANCE. Is the electric company suppose to not cut off anyone's electricity during the winter? For them to have avoided this situation, that would have had to be their policy, since they were not informed the man was 86 nor did he sign up for their program.
Posted by JISCal2 on 2012-02-21:
When it is that cold outside there should be checks in place to make sure that the health of the person in the home is not compromised. How they would go about doing that I do not know. Let them figure it out.
Posted by Churro on 2012-02-21:
That seems like the reasonable thing to do, John.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-21:
I only wish that they "took care" of my blood pressure medicine, too.
Hell, pay for my car, too.
Down to the friggen penny.
Hell, pay for my car, too.
Down to the friggen penny.
Posted by Venice09 on 2012-02-21:
We have natural gas but need electricity to run the furnace and stove. Not sure about the water heater.
"What makes someone 86 yrs old any more eligible to have their power left on, then say a struggling college student working a min wage job and they are unable to afford a $260/bill?"
I'm not defending the power company, but that's a good point. What about struggling parents with babies in the house? Or people with disabilities? The list goes on and on.
"What makes someone 86 yrs old any more eligible to have their power left on, then say a struggling college student working a min wage job and they are unable to afford a $260/bill?"
I'm not defending the power company, but that's a good point. What about struggling parents with babies in the house? Or people with disabilities? The list goes on and on.
Posted by Churro on 2012-02-21:
Wow, seriously y'all can't see the difference between an 86 year old and a college student? Once again on my3cents I find myself speechless.
Posted by Venice09 on 2012-02-21:
It's not just about college students. There are many people whose lives are compromised by freezing. For certain people it can be a matter of life and death, not just comfort.
Posted by Anonymous on 2012-02-21:
Churro, my point was..ahh nevermind, I think you know what my point was.
At any rate..I'm sure most states are like WA, where those of us that are not struggling can donate so those that are struggling can get some help. Here it's called the Warm Home Fund. Again, a person must be signed up and approved for assistance before they receive.
At any rate..I'm sure most states are like WA, where those of us that are not struggling can donate so those that are struggling can get some help. Here it's called the Warm Home Fund. Again, a person must be signed up and approved for assistance before they receive.
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