[MI-IRISH]

Originally Posted by Driller1

This is going to be a BIG deal for about 24 more hours. We can just hope some policy change comes from it.

23 hours and counting

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by mi-irish

23 hours and counting:d

lol lol lol

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by Driller1

There are programs out there for this. More for senors than anyone. This was a long process, not one bill. In fact it was not turned off, it had a restrictive device on it.

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?

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Utilites sell produces. If you do not pay for them, they have to do something. Are YOU willing to pay more yourself so this does not happen???

yes, why not?

My tax dollars pay for these million dollar bombs that accidentally blow limbs off of children in Iraq and Afghanistan, to ensure that USA stamp out terrorism, and usher freedom to these Islamic countries.


Why not spend a little money to help out and elderly American???

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Myself I would be willing to pay $10 more a month on my electric bill to see this does not happen again. Anyone else???

Seriously!

Have you noticed how the price of things (food, consumer goods) went up de to higher fuel costs... and now that the oil prices has dropped.... you don't see a decrease in the price of these goods.

Once they squeeze that extra money out of you... you never never get it back. I say lets at least spend a little to help out a neighbor.

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by janetvj

Are you serious?? My friend's elderly mother lives in a frame 2 story older single family home in Baltimore County. Her utility bill for one month is over $1,100. I'm in a much smaller, newer townhouse, but even so my last bill was over $400. Are Michigan utilities that much lower than here?

I think the utility company should have to make personal contact with the occupants of the house before limiting or shutting off electricity just for this reason. If they find an elderly person, or a family with children, or someone with health issues that needs the use of electricity for medical equipment, they should have to report it to local authorities before taking any action.

great idea. Maybe the extra money we all seem to be willing to pay would pay for this service. That way the utility company would know if the person was elderly, disabled, mentally insane, parent with little ones, etc. And if so, could than contact social services for that person.

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I'm sorry, but even though I am generally a compassionate human being I must side with driller here. The utility companies sell commodities to households and businesses.

Then if utility companies want to act like a real business, then treat them as one... STOP LETTING UTILITY COMPANIES FORM MONOPOLIES!!!!

If I don't like the business practices of detroit edison... I HAVE NO RECOURSE. It is their way, or generator and batteries.

Government has set up things to allow monopolies and these utility companies benefit from having a captivated audience.

So maybe they should have a little government regulation for having this little deal of monopoly.

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

There were probably several families on his own block that would have welcomed him over to save his life if he had just not been too "proud" and "stubborn" to ask for help and if those families hadn't been so self-absorbed to have never checked in on him. How is that the utility's fault? Give me a break!

BTW, how do you know he was too proud to beg? Was that in some articles? I have not read that in the articles.

My first thought is 93... that is only 7 years from 100!!! I can't believe he was even living alone. Maybe he was weakened and sickly... after all, he was 93.

[kcam213]

Originally Posted by wanderer74

The problem with that is that it would cost the companies money to hire people to do that. More and more companies are getting rid of positions altogether or replacing full-time employees who get benefits with part-timers or contractors who don't get benefits. Business these days is driven solely by profit and labor seems to be seen as an enemy of profit rather than something that creates it. (Then of course the more people whose hours are cut or who lose their jobs entirely, the less money available to pay for those services...)

public utility companies, I would think is not hurting like a private company. If you have 1 million people living in the city.... guess how many customers you have?? 1 million people! They DO NOT HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE!

[Summering]

I got a few calls yesterday, and in every call this mans story was brought up.
I understand the utility company ( per a News story) is going to stop using the restricters.
It stated they would be taking them off.
(It looks like a metal extender between the glass and the set plate......)
So its a first step in the right direction. If they can make a call to a secondary party before turning off, that would be the second step.........and I think some electric companies already do that.