In America

“… As a result, tens of thousands of Michigan residents have their gas cut every year. State law does not prohibit shutoffs in the winter, except for senior citizens.

Consumers Energy, which serves 1.54 million residential gas customers in Michigan, shut off 37,000 customers last year, compared to 25,600 in 2002, said company spokesman Jeff Holyfield.

DTE Energy declined to provide shut-off figures. However, spokesman Len Singer said the number of people enrolled in the company’s low-income winter protection plan rose to 28,000 in January, compared to 13,000 in 2003. …”

> AP: “Rising energy costs put more families on the edge of homelessness”