CO deaths prompt call for safeguards

AUGUSTA – A state senator from the town where a father and son died from carbon monoxide poisoning is submitting legislation to prevent similar tragedies by requiring power companies to make sure customers’ service is restored during the colder months.

Stewart Townsend and his 16-year-old son, Nicholas, died last Friday of what appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning from fumes from a generator they were running in their home in Windham. They were using the generator, which was in an unventilated basement, because their electric service had been cut off in June.

The state medical examiner’s office said Monday that the cause of death has not yet been determined.

Under Maine law, utilities can cut off electricity in the summer but not during the colder months. Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, wants to impose the additional safeguard of requiring accounts to be restored when colder weather arrives.

Public Utilities Chairman Kurt Adams said the proposal has merit, but it’s up to the Legislature to establish policy. But Central Maine Power Co. said the proposal would boost rates by creating a mandate to protect consumers who already have had plenty of chances to keep the power on or get it restored.

State disconnection rules say electric companies must give delinquent consumers two-week notices that they may lose their power. The utility must then try again to contact consumers if they fail to work something out within that 14-day period.

Only the PUC can authorize the permanent disconnection of an occupied house between Nov. 15 and April 15, said Derek Davidson of the PUC’s consumer assistance.

Carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator is blamed for two other deaths in Maine in November, but those deaths had nothing to do with a power disconnection. Two men working on the interior of a house under construction died after being overcome by fumes.