Responsibility for CO Deaths

TheRoadDog
TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
edited November 16 in Chit-Chat
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/8-deaths-in-home-bring-scrutiny-of-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/ar-AAazMZI

I'm not sure how the power company should be held accountable if they turn off power to someone not paying their bill.

It's tragic that this family died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, but paying the bill and/or contacting the Power Company to make arrangements could have stalled the loss of power.

Secondly, utilizing a generator without properly venting the carbon monoxide is not the Power Company's fault either.

Replies

  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    in what world is it cheaper to run a generator than to pay the utility bill?

  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    _John_ wrote: »
    in what world is it cheaper to run a generator than to pay the utility bill?

    It's not in the long run. He may have just been trying to get through the night.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    Tragic, but not the power company's fault.
  • kamakazeekim
    kamakazeekim Posts: 1,183 Member
    In Minnesota, the power company legally cannot turn the power off between certain dates (October 15-April 15) in order to avoid things like this from happening.
  • ktekc
    ktekc Posts: 879 Member
    In Maine it's the same. And I think it's longer if there are kids in the house. Not sure
  • AlisonH729
    AlisonH729 Posts: 558 Member
    edited April 2015
    ktekc wrote: »
    In Maine it's the same. And I think it's longer if there are kids in the house. Not sure

    But in order for the utility company to know children live in the home the owner/tenants would still have to be in contact with them.

  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    Why were the kids living with the father after he stabbed the mother in the face and she was working while he was on welfare?
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    I'm not saying it is the power company's fault; but if they removed the stolen meter, shouldn't they have replaced it at the same time with a correct and functioning meter?
  • radmack
    radmack Posts: 272 Member
    edited April 2015
    They are not allowed to shut of power in the winter here if there are young kids in the home.

    But I just read the article and they had an illegal meter that was disconnected. They had never signed up for power. What an awful tragedy.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    flyingtanuki wrote: »
    Good thing the power company disconnected the illegal power meter for safety reasons - someone could have gotten hurt ...

    Sarcasm?
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    edited April 2015
    I had my power turned off for safety reasons (a tree limb took out a line going to my house) and we couldn't have it turned back on until the line got fixed. Also, since it was the part that attached to our house, it was our problem to deal with. So we called an electrician and got it dealt with. It was around November so it wasn't exactly warm outside and we have a child in the home.

    You have to realize that really it's all about liability for the power company. If there was a shortage due to faulty equipment and it caused a house fire then the power company could be held at fault for not being proactive and disabling power. They can't help that carbon monoxide was created within the home.

    Again, it's tragic, but it's really no one's fault. The box the generator came in probably came with a manual saying not to use it indoors too. But really, who reads those?
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    It said that the power meter was "stolen". Not sure how you steal a power meter, but anyway, it's possible the generator was stolen, too.

    The generator was running indoors. It was speculated that it was not left running outdoors because it might disturb the neighbors. Might also be because if it was stolen it might attract attention to itself.

    Anyway, speculation aside, it's very sad.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited April 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • palwithme
    palwithme Posts: 860 Member
    Such a sad story. Really heart breaking.
This discussion has been closed.

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