The heartless actions of a greedy Michigan utility have led directly to the death of an elderly man-- and amazingly, no criminal charges will be filed.
Lansing police plan to take no further action after an investigation established that a 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home after an electric utility installed a power-limiting device because of unpaid bills.
Neighbors discovered Marvin Schur's body in January-- the windows were frosted over, icicles hung from a faucet and the World War II veteran lay dead on the bedroom floor in a winter jacket over four layers of clothing.
Workers with Bay City Electric Light & Power had installed a device that restricts power on Schur's electric meter less than a week earlier. The "limiter" blows like a fuse if usage rises past a set level and electricity is not restored until the device is flipped back on by the homeowner, who must walk outside to the meter.
Asbury said it appeared the device tripped and cut off power to the home. The utility had no comment on the prosecutor's decision not to file charges. Michigan's state-regulated utilities are not allowed to shut off power to senior citizens in the winter, but Bay City's utilities are not overseen by the state. Schur's death led the state House to pass a plan banning the use of limiters for elderly customers. The plan is under consideration in the Senate.
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