LANSING – House Democrats today unveiled a package of bills aimed at keeping seniors and vulnerable citizens safe during Michigan's harsh winters by requiring utility companies to give longer and more effective notice to customers at risk of a shutoff, adding protections for elderly and mentally disabled customers, and establishing procedures to ensure that no one risks injury or death by living in a home without electricity or heat.
"Home heating costs are rising as our state continues to face difficult economic times," said State Representatives Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City). "Utility bills can become big expenses, especially for our most vulnerable residents such as our seniors and those who are mentally disabled. Having the heat shut off can literally mean the difference between life and death. It benefits everyone in a community when utility companies improve their notification procedures."
The House Democrats' plan aims to prevent tragedies such as the death of 90-year-old Phyllis Willett of Vicksburg. Willett was found dead in her freezing Kalamazoo-area home on Dec. 17, four days after her electricity was shut off by Indiana Michigan Power. Her 63-year-old daughter, whom relatives described as mentally disabled, suffered injuries related to frostbite and exposure.
The plan would:
- Prohibit utilities from shutting off a senior's utilities in the winter and require them to work to ensure that those with mental disabilities don't have their utilities shut off.
- Require utilities to give customers at least 15 days notice before shutoff and notify them in person or by certified mail, and give low-income customers who are part of the Winter Protection Program 30 days to pay their delinquent bill before shutting off service.
- Mandate that utilities visit the home of a senior customer who has not restored service within three business days to tell them how they can resolve the situation.
In addition, the plan requires utilities to waive all fees and fines associated with a shutoff if the company failed to provide proper notice. The utility also must waive any costs for resuming service and pay a fine that will go in to the State Emergency Relief Fund, which helps residents who can't pay their energy bills. Utilities would also be responsible for costs the customer incurred, such as damage to the home from burst pipes, if those costs resulted from the company wrongly shutting off power.
"No one should have to try to get through a harsh Michigan winter without heat," said State Representative Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw). "That's why we need this plan to protect our residents who face rising home heating costs in the face of our state's difficult economic times. This plan safeguards Saginaw's working families and seniors on fixed income – it's the right thing to do."