Man freezes to death after city whacks power off

[Brianzz]

This is the most obscene absurd story I've ever heard in my life.....

By Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 26, 2009 at 2:46 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 26, 2009 at 3:48 PM CST

Officials in central Michigan say a 93-year-old man who owed more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills froze to death inside his home -- where the municipal power company had restricted his use of electricity.

The company had put a "limiter" device in the home because of the unpaid bills. The device limits the power that reaches a home, and it blows out like a fuse if power consumption rises past a set level.

The manager of Bay City says the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body.

The body of Marvin Schur was discovered on January 17th. According to the Bay City Times, neighbors who found his body said the indoor temperature was below freezing.

Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner says Schur died a "slow, painful death" from hypothermia.

The city manager says city workers keep the limiter on a house for 10 days, then shut off power entirely if the homeowner hasn't paid utility bills or arranged to do so.