Lynge-parabol service <Flemsel@tdc.dk> wrote:
> Jamen det kan sgu da ikke være rigtigt, hun kunne jo ikke betale
> el-regningen. Man kan sgu da ikke få strøm når man ikke betaler, der er fejl
> på begge sider i denne sag.
Jamen, lad os så se på udviklingen siden. Jeg holder mig til New Zealand
Herald, som jeg tidligere har linket til:
<
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10442864>
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The gas and electricity complaints commissioner says power firms cannot
hide behind contractors as an excuse for not dealing with customers'
needs.
Judi Jones said the circumstances were not yet clear in the case of
Folole Muliaga, who died on Tuesday two hours after her power was cut
off by a contractor working for Mercury Energy.
But she said energy companies could not use the use of outside firms as
an excuse as the contractors were "acting under the company's
instructions".
She added on Radio New Zealand today: "If they turn up at the door and
are told that there is a vulnerable consumer inside who needs
electricity, the very least they should do is phone home and say, 'What
should I do in this case?'."
The contractors who cut off the electricity to Mrs Muliaga's Mangere
home - VirCom EMS - have been speaking with their lawyers today.
Chief executive Craig Shepherd was not returning calls but a staff
member said at lunchtime that he had been in talks with legal
representatives since 7.30am, Newstalk ZB reported.
Mercury Energy was due to give a press conference at 3pm.
It was also revealed this morning that police have interviewed the
family of Mrs Muliaga, who died two hours after a contractor working for
Mercury Energy cut off her power supply disabling her oxygen machine.
Family spokesman Brenden Sheehan said Mrs Muliaga's husband and sons
spent six hours with officers yesterday.
He also said the family felt like the company was calling them liars for
disputing their version of events.
Mercury says it was not made aware that Mrs Muliaga, was dependent on
the electricity supply for her oxygen machine.
The National Party said today that State-owned Enterprises Minister
Trevor Mallard should move quickly to clear up the confusion.
Gerry Brownlee said "a pretty nasty situation" had developed since Mrs
Muliaga's death, with conflicting information about whether Mercury
Energy knew that cutting off the power would create a life-threatening
situation.
"I'm told Mr Mallard has had an interim report, and I find his silence
on this somewhat puzzling," Mr Brownlee said on Radio New Zealand.
"I think for us to be now some 24 hours from the event, and there to be
still this confusion, is unacceptable."
Mr Brownlee said the company, and other state-owned electricity
suppliers, should have protocols in place that covered the sort of
situation encountered by the Muliaga family.
"It should be abundantly clear to anyone who saw the machine that
something was going on," he said.
"For a debt like $200, wouldn't you think there would have been a phone
call to say 'we've got an issue here'?"
Electricity companies are being urged to show compassion to customers
struggling to pay their power bills following the death.
Barry Wilson, president of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties,
believes there is a high possibility a serious criminal offence has been
committed.
He said Mercury Energy needed to return to the old Auckland Electricity
Power Board days, when there was a clear policy of not cutting power to
those under financial pressure.
Mr Wilson said anything was better than the "ruthless and heartless"
commercialism that now prevails.
Trade unionists and community activists will picket outside Mercury
Energy's headquarters this afternoon, following Mrs Muliaga's case.
Solidarity Union spokesman Joe Carolan described the company as
corporate bully boys, who prey on the weak and vulnerable of South
Auckland.
He is calling for the company's CEO to be sacked.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF
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Mere her:
<
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/index.cfm?c_id=1501212>
--
Per Erik Rønne
http://www.RQNNE.dk