January 29, 2008

To determine whether its rules on Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Gas Residential Service were violated, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today initiated an investigation into Indiana Michigan Power Company's (I&M) shut-off of electric service to an elderly customer in December, 2007.  The utility is required to file testimony in the case by Feb. 22.

The Commission is also requiring the utility to submit testimony describing in detail the company's efforts to identify and enroll senior citizen customers for shut-off protection during the heating season and describing each instance from Nov. 1, 2007 through Jan. 29, 2008 where a residential customer's electric service was shut off, although the customer was qualified to participate in the Winter Protection Plan.

Media reports indicate that an elderly woman died after suffering exposure, frostbite and hypothermia-induced pneumonia while occupying a home that had been without heat, subsequent to the shut-off of electric service for non-payment of a past due account by I&M.

The Commission's Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Gas Residential Service prohibit the shut off of service during the space heating season to senior citizens eligible for participation in the Winter Protection Plan.

A pre-hearing conference on the case will be held at 9 a.m. on March 5.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-15496