Well at least he died of natural causes. All jokes aside. Why wasn't he living in Florida? Isn't that where everyone retires to? There or Vegas? Besides I read that he had 'quite the nest egg' and if this is true, then he had no reason not to pay his bill...unless he was suffering from any ailment that comes from old age and if that is the case then he really died by living his independent life and we can all hope to die as well.

So, the Sheriff's Department is not only to keep track of every elderly citizen in the immediate area, but also to check up on them everyday, to make sure they have paid their electricity bill?

What an ignorant statment, sir.

This is America. When elderly people can't pay their electricity bill, and the power company cuts off their power, and the elderly person subsequently freezes to death...how is that the responsibility of the local Sheriff's Department, or children's services?

Sure, no one is directly at fault. The red tape surrounding these things prevent direct blame. However, there is certainly a negligent aspect here, and it is placed directly on those who created that red tape and non-personal treatment of customers in the first place, with the intent of creating efficiency at making profit. That is the power company.

Just because they would have, in your assertion, fucked you over as well, with much less excuse, doesn't excuse their negligant actions.

When you own a monopoly, like most power companys do from area to area, of an absolutely essential service, you take on a certain responsibility.

You can not cut the damn power off in the dead of Winter and blame the f'n Sheriff's department when someone dies from it. I'm no longer speaking to you, but directly to the party responsible. You are the power company. You can charge what you want, and people will pay it. You aren't hurting from the recession. Have some common sense for god sake. Your stupidity and lack of reason just killed a man. Lucky for them I'm not local.

ZenfolderVGI, I tend to respect you as a poster and as a person, but what the hell?  I AM a deputy sheriff.  I've been one since 2003.  We have a list of elderly and at risk people, and in situations of power outages, severe storms, extreme cold weather and such, WE CHECK ON THE WELFARE OF LOCAL CITIZENS.  We have a list of at risk people.  It's called a welfare check list.  Most people tend to appreciate our concern.  Every now and then, we end up notifying the Department of Family and Children's Services (several members of the department are saved to my cell phone at this very moment), a family member, Emergency Medical Services, or a local shelter.

Your attempt to tell ME the specifics of MY job is laughable.  DFCS responds to elderly neglect, elderly abuse, child abuse, and virtually any other situation pertaining to people's domestic well being.  If you are not familiar with them, then don't open your mouth about what their responsibilities are.  Personally, I have had to place more deceased (two of which were SERIOUSLY decomposed) older people into body bags than you.   Older men/women who lived alone.  I like to think I've prevented that from happening LEAST once or twice.  Natural causes are one thing, but we still do what we can to prevent senseless death.  This IS America.  We have systems in place to look out for people's well being.

Bottom line:  The man was $1000 behind on his electric bill.  Whether he had the money or not, he didn't pay it.  He was 93 years old and living on his own.  The Electric company had a device in place that would regulate his electricity.  Despite being behind on his bill, he STILL had the ability to reactivate the  service.  Apparently he didn't know how.  He didn't call anyone for help either.  I knew the background of this story before this thread was ever created.  I saw the interviews with his neighbors stating "He survived World War II, but couldn't survive the electric company".  Learn to recognize fear/outrage mongering when you see it. Since this incident, the electric company has removed these power regulatory devices from their customers.  The faceless monopoly HAS taken responsibility for the situation. 

I've wasted too much time replying to this poorly informed post.  Mark this date on your calender.  You have been proven wrong on the internet.  Good day to you, sir.

boobs.

....which is why electricity must be provided by the state.

That's terribly depressing...

Electricity companies wouldn't cut during winter even if you owe them money... Otherwise situations like this would happen and it isn't tolerated here.

It's really inhuman and depressing to think that they did that.

Dear sir, being a deputy sheriff is one thing. Believing that your duty, and indeed the duty of every deputy sheriff, is to keep an eye out for people like this is quite another, much more ignorant thing.

Now, while you might have intimate knowledge of this case, I am armed with only common sense.

My common sense tells me that if the faceless monopoly of the electricity company has CHANGED something, and TAKEN RESPONSIBILIITY for this, then they must have thought that some of their restrictions were IRRESPONSIBLE in the first place.

Besides them "taking responsibility" should they not also be HELD responsible for their mistake here?

Next time I kill an old lady with my car, I'll buy a new car and take responsibility. However, please, arrest me as well, would you?

Admitting their wrong doing is fine, however, if they admit they were wrong in any way, then they are responsible for this, sir, and should take responsibility and the CONSEQUENCES that go with it.

FYI, you can tell your friends in the deputy sheriff's office that they can slack off a little on keeping tabs on every elderly person with a heat-source. It's certainly not in the job description.

I just heard he had the payment and bill in his house and did not send it in.

@numonex-"Cut it off during the warm weather but not the winter"

I've had my power shut off after xmas, not for one second did I feel like I was a victim. Just trashy.

@Zen- Besides them "taking responsibility" should they not also be HELD responsible for their mistake here?

I don't think the power company is to blame. If I don't pay my car payment I don't drive. That easy. I understand that this is different from utilities, but it's the same idea. IMO there's no one to blame but God. The man was obviously "confused".  If not then he's extremely cheap and it's his own fault.

WTF.  The power company would never do that if they knew.  Never.  You could never pay your power and they wouldn't do a damn thing.