In the wake of the deaths of a family of 8 earlier Princess Anne last month Somerset County resident and former NAACP leader Kirkland Hall says it’s time to change the way utilities turnoff power.
He wants them to be required to get in touch with law enforcement before cutting off power when it is found that a resident has been using a stolen or illegal meter.
The Todd family died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a portable heater after their power was shut off by Delmarva Power.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that current law prohibits power companies from turning off power between November and the end of March for late payments.
The company shutoff power because of the stolen meter and was not required to notify the Public Service Commission.
