[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by kcam213

what exactly is a restrictive device. How does it work? Can you use PART of electricity? Is it enough to turn on your furnace?

Actually, that would be a good idea to help out someone in financial straits, limited electrical service... just enough to at least kick on the furnace.

Is this what restrictive service mean?

It means that once the electrical use passes a certain point it shuts off automatically. Which in this weather means certain death. There is no way it's not going to shut off too soon to keep the furnace igniting (even if it runs on gas the igniter's electric), just because of the number of hours of darkness daily. How that's not considered wrongdoing in these temperatures??? I just can't get over that part. Is this really the power company's idea of working with the indigent?

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

It means that once the electrical use passes a certain point it shuts off automatically. Which in this weather means certain death. There is no way it's not going to shut off too soon to keep the furnace igniting (even if it runs on gas the igniter's electric), just because of the number of hours of darkness daily. How that's not considered wrongdoing in these temperatures??? I just can't get over that part. Is this really the power company's idea of working with the indigent?

Can you post a link showing he was indigent?? All of our newspapers and TV stations must be wrong. BTW, our electricity has been out for six days due to weather from time to time. We did not die.

[Cliffie]

OK, "indigent" was probably the wrong word, but I'd be amazed to hear that he was well-off financially AND over a grand behind on his electric bill.

Apparently the investigation is not over yet. I clipped this from the NPR site:

Bay City Electric Light & Power is city owned, and is not governed by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which has specific rules about shutoffs.

John Sellek is a spokesman for Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. He says Bay City Police are working with local prosecutors in Bay County.

Sellek also says the attorney general may step in:

"He still has the ability to go in, take a look at the Bay City Municipal Utility's rules, find out if they followed those rules, and then try to make some decisions after he's gathered facts on that," Selleck says.

Bay City Electric Light & Power representatives declined to be interviewed. On Tuesday, the utility removed limiter devices from 60 to 70 customers' homes.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

OK, "indigent" was probably the wrong word, but I'd be amazed to hear that he was well-off financially AND over a grand behind on his electric bill.

Apparently the investigation is not over yet. I clipped this from the NPR site:

The money was on the table. The guy for some reson did not pay the bill.

[wanderer74]

From a story I read, he had over $600,000 in his bank account. His phone had also been shut off. I am guessing that most likely the late payments were due to dementia.

[Cliffie]

OK, maybe it WAS a suicide. Damn, every piece of information I've gotten today about EVERYTHING has been crazy.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Driller1

The money was on the table. The guy for some reson did not pay the bill.

You've mentioned this several times. Maybe you have never had a relative or someone else close to you with dementia. It isn't always apparent that someone has gone over the edge. It comes on gradually, and often an early sign is someone who has always been responsible (as this gentleman appears to have been) that stops paying bills on time, or eating regularly. They forget that they haven't eaten, or they totally lose track of time. Unless you are around them for long periods, you may not even notice that he or she is starting to slide away. They may appear to be just somewhat forgetful; repeating the same stories, or forgetting appointments.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by janetvj

You've mentioned this several times. Maybe you have never had a relative or someone else close to you with dementia. It isn't always apparent that someone has gone over the edge. It comes on gradually, and often an early sign is someone who has always been responsible (as this gentleman appears to have been) that stops paying bills on time, or eating regularly. They forget that they haven't eaten, or they totally lose track of time. Unless you are around them for long periods, you may not even notice that he or she is starting to slide away. They may appear to be just somewhat forgetful; repeating the same stories, or forgetting appointments.

Yes, I have said that many times. In response to posts talking about him (or others) NOT having the money

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Yes, I have said that many times. In response to posts talking about him (or others) NOT having the money

You're right - from everything I read he did have the money. A lot of the people posting here seem to be disregarding that fact. From what I understand, he had been a responsible bill-paying person for his whole adult life. That, in connection with his age, is why I'm making the assumption that he was suffering from dementia or alzheimers or something like that. People in that condition don't even realize they need help. And unfortunately not everyone has a strong support system. If he had no family, no church or other social connection, no close friends, there was no one who could ask for help on his behalf. If nothing else maybe this will result in changes being made to require that someone else be contacted in the future before utilities are cut off or restricted.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by janetvj

You're right - from everything I read he did have the money. A lot of the people posting here seem to be disregarding that fact. From what I understand, he had been a responsible bill-paying person for his whole adult life. That, in connection with his age, is why I'm making the assumption that he was suffering from dementia or alzheimers or something like that. People in that condition don't even realize they need help. And unfortunately not everyone has a strong support system. If he had no family, no church or other social connection, no close friends, there was no one who could ask for help on his behalf. If nothing else maybe this will result in changes being made to require that someone else be contacted in the future before utilities are cut off or restricted.

As I read it, his phone was cut off too.