The outlet noted that the family was reportedly using a generator in the home after their electricity was cut off due to an unpaid bill.
NC Newsline noted that family members claim the Swanns tried to prevent the electricity shutoff with a partial payment, but the city utility denied the request, citing a requirement of either the full past-due amount or a three-month plan to pay off the entire balance.
The outlet reported that Senator Natalie Murdock said hearing of the family’s passing gave her chills.
“I would hope that we would dream of a world where no one dies simply because they’re behind on their energy bill,” Murdock said. “That’s just not acceptable.”
NC Newsline reported that Murdock, along with other lawmakers, filed a bill this year banning utility companies from shutting off power for nonpayment during periods of extreme heat. That bill was never given a hearing by lawmaker leaders.
filed a bill this year banning utility companies from shutting off power for nonpayment during periods of extreme heat. That bill was never given a hearing by lawmaker leaders.
Funny how that works. People in the pocket of the local electricity giant, Duke energy (2025 profit of 23.196 Billion dollars), can just stop legislation without even hearing it. Funny thing, how capitalism effects democracy like that. We have rules around not cutting off power during bouts of extreme cold, well heat can be just as deadly. So what the fuck are we doing?
One of my neighbors got into a pickle paying their electric bill, and figured it out after a few months, and they were relying on a generator that they (thankfully) operated outside of their home. The noise was a little annoying, but what’s more annoying is the callous disregard for human life that these pathetic men in power have.
up north we have such a thing in the winter for electric utilities. no shutoffs from like october to april.
The case has also drawn renewed attention to Rocky Mount’s city-owned utility, which provides electricity, water, gas, and trash service. The utility has reportedly charged higher prices than other providers and has faced billing errors and delays that left some customers owing thousands of dollars while they struggled to reach anyone by phone for help, the outlet reported.
🤦♀️
Sounds like Murdock is a woke libtard. The free markets demand sacrifice. BLOOD! BLOOD FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS!
Tho, it isn’t just capital to blame /s: sounds like they ran a generator indoors… People are really separated from how physical reality works; this is a failure of the education system too! Which just so happens to come back around to, you guessed it: capitalism again 🎉
Something tells me they just never got the education that was present.
Honestly, I’m not really sure how you get past childhood without just passively learning you can’t run gas engines indoors. It sucks that this killed them, but oh man. How does that go unlearned?
Honestly, I’m not really sure how you get past childhood without just passively learning you can’t run gas engines indoors. It sucks that this killed them, but oh man. How does that go unlearned?
I learned that as an adult from reading sad stories like this. My parents never had a generator and they didn’t work on cars or anything with an engine at the house.
I’ve never seen a generator that’s not plastered in warning stickers, several of which warn not to run inside. BBQs are the same.
Then again, my neighbours decided to have a campfire in the garage last autumn. ಠ_ಠ
Rocky Mount is a shithole. Additionally, for most other locations, Duke Energy is just as fucking evil. They actively sue solar installation companies out of existence, and with the state government in their pockets, any challenges are quickly wiped out.
