Elderly Woman Dies After Electricity Cut Despite Pleas for Aid

[snoop1130]

 

In a tragic turn of events, a 68-year-old bedridden woman, Kian Leephon, from Nakhon Phanom's Wang Yang district died after her electricity supply was cut, despite her niece's desperate pleas. The power outage, caused by overdue payments, disabled Kian’s oxygen concentrator, essential for her survival.

 

On 1st October, a private firm arrived around 9am with a Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) order to disconnect power due to unpaid bills. Kian’s niece begged them to wait, promising swift payment, but the officials proceeded, cutting off electricity at 9.20am.

 

By 11.49am, after the niece paid, power was restored, but the delay proved fatal for Kian. PEA regulations usually provide leeway for households with medical dependencies, though it was discovered Kian's residence wasn’t registered for these exceptions.

PEA expressed condolences, attributing the cut to protocol adherence. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has launched an investigation and urged awareness of protections for vulnerable users. Registration requirements for families with such medical needs have been clarified to prevent recurrence.

 

Kian’s niece expressed overwhelming grief and disbelief, questioning the compassion shown by the working staff during the ordeal.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-10-14

 

 

[0ffshore360]

Devoid of historical evidence other than admission of failure to notify PEA of critical dependence on supply nor reason for such.

Failing to pay an electricity bill does not eventuate in a sudden summary  disconnection.

 

[wozzlegummich]

Can't the daughter take action against the workers and their bosses? They were well aware that it may cause her death.

[attento]

There may be a good reason, but one  wonders why  the neice didn't help before the debt mounted so high.

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

By 11.49am, after the niece paid, power was restored, but the delay proved fatal for Kian. PEA regulations usually provide leeway for households with medical dependencies, though it was discovered Kian's residence wasn’t registered for these exceptions.

A sad ending, but the family should have acted in a better way.

[jippytum]

faults on both sides. However as the family knowing the deceaseds absolute  need for life saving equipment  should have made sure the arrears  where paid. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thesetat2013]

11 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

Devoid of historical evidence other than admission of failure to notify PEA of critical dependence on supply nor reason for such.

Failing to pay an electricity bill does not eventuate in a sudden summary  disconnection.

 

I would have to agree. The PEA do not cut power for missing a payment so quickly. They also provide notices in advance. Although I sympathize with the details and someone dying over the loss of power. I do not think she has the right to blame the PEA. It is her fault for not contacting them and sorting it out prior to it being cut. 

[loong]

Seems strange that such an important medical device does not have any sort of back-up. I would have thought that a power-cut lasting 2.5 hours is not that uncommon in Thailand.

[Muhendis]

16 minutes ago, loong said:

Seems strange that such an important medical device does not have any sort of back-up. I would have thought that a power-cut lasting 2.5 hours is not that uncommon in Thailand.

Yes. That was my first thought.

Normally, medical devices made for life dependency have their own independent power supply rather like a UPS. It could be that this ladies device either malfunctioned (flat battery) or was of non-medical origin (not from a hospital).

Whatever.

PEA did what they always do and had the meter removed after two payments were missed. Happened to me when wifey forgot to pay a couple of times. Didn't notice straight away because I have what you might call whole house UPS in the form of solar with batteries.

[Taboo2]

This is evil.

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, attento said:

There may be a good reason, but one  wonders why  the neice didn't help before the debt mounted so high.

 

She, too, extremely poor.

I suppose.

[Confuscious]

1. In most "CIVILISED" countries, at least my country, the electricity company is not allowed to cut the power off.
In case of a default payment, a "limiter" will be installed to limit the electricity use to 2KW/month.
The same goes for other public utilities such as tap water, Telephone, etc.

2. In 2004, I needed to travel back to my country to handle urgent documents.
    On a recommendation of my wife, I left my mother-in -law live in my house whilst we were away.
    I left her with the necessary cash to pay all the bills for that month.
    On my return, I found that the electricity meter was removed.
   Went to the PEA, and their answer was that if a bill is not payed after 2  weeks they have an order to remove the meter (Nakhon Ratchasima).

[Sheryl]

18 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

 

Failing to pay an electricity bill does not eventuate in a sudden summary  disconnection.

 

 

Actually, in Thailand it usually does. Not even a second notice given.

 

Common for people to have their power shut off due to not getting the bill. One has to be very vigilant in keeping tabs on this.

[Sheryl]

6 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

I would have to agree. The PEA do not cut power for missing a payment so quickly. They also provide notices in advance.

 Not in my experience.  A bill is sent, which one may or may nto receive. By second billing cycle, power is cut. Period. No warnings.

[billd766]

6 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

I would have to agree. The PEA do not cut power for missing a payment so quickly. They also provide notices in advance. Although I sympathize with the details and someone dying over the loss of power. I do not think she has the right to blame the PEA. It is her fault for not contacting them and sorting it out prior to it being cut. 

It you are bed ridden and confined to bed it is very difficult to get up, travel to the PEA office and explain the situation. 

 

I tend to think that her family would normally pay the bill, perhaps at a 7/11 if that were nearer.

 

Again I think that her family could have gone to the PEA with a letter from her doctor explaining the mothers situation.

 

Here in rural Kamphaeng Phet, my meter is read on 23/24 monthly and the payment date is the 3rd of the following month. If I forget, a reminder is put in the electricity box on the 10th of the following month.

 

How many bills you can stop paying before before being cut off I have no idea. 2 or 3 perhaps, depending on the size of the bill.

 

 

[billd766]

6 hours ago, loong said:

Seems strange that such an important medical device does not have any sort of back-up. I would have thought that a power-cut lasting 2.5 hours is not that uncommon in Thailand.

There are UPS available at a price but if you are old and poor, you may not be able to afford one.

 

I am a little surprised that the hospital did not supply a UPS with the equipment. Having said that, equipment supplied by the state hospitals is not always returned when the user no longer needs it.

[black tabby12345]

56 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

1. In most "CIVILISED" countries, at least my country, the electricity company is not allowed to cut the power off.
In case of a default payment, a "limiter" will be installed to limit the electricity use to 2KW/month.
The same goes for other public utilities such as tap water, Telephone, etc.

2. In 2004, I needed to travel back to my country to handle urgent documents.
    On a recommendation of my wife, I left my mother-in -law live in my house whilst we were away.
    I left her with the necessary cash to pay all the bills for that month.
    On my return, I found that the electricity meter was removed.
   Went to the PEA, and their answer was that if a bill is not payed after 2  weeks they have an order to remove the meter (Nakhon Ratchasima).

 

A case of cold blunt bureaucracy in the land of Mai Pen Rai?

[Confuscious]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

It you are bed ridden and confined to bed it is very difficult to get up, travel to the PEA office and explain the situation. 

Most of the "Keyboard Barstool Specialists" in AseanNow can not think like you.
Just jump to a conclusion and show their poor knowledge (limited to Phuket, Pattaya, etc.) about Thailand.

"In a tragic turn of events, a 68-year-old bedridden woman, Kian Leephon, from Nakhon Phanom's Wang Yang district died after her electricity supply was cut, despite her niece's desperate pleas. The power outage, caused by overdue payments, disabled Kian’s oxygen concentrator, essential for her survival."

[Confuscious]

9 hours ago, Muhendis said:

Normally, medical devices made for life dependency have their own independent power supply rather like a UPS.

Last year, I meet an American guy living in Thailand and on a wheelchair with an oxygen device.
While having a chat, he noticed that his device was low on power and needed to find a 220VAC outlet fast.
No backup power on the device.
When a low battery sign is given, he had 10 minutes left to find a power supply.
The device was rented from the hospital (name not disclosed because of stringent laws).

I am not a medic, but I guess that a small oxygen bottle could have given enough oxygen for 2 a 4 hours.
Enough to bypass a failure of the oxygen device.

[Muhendis]

1 hour ago, Confuscious said:

While having a chat, he noticed that his device was low on power and needed to find a 220VAC outlet fast.
No backup power on the device.

I guess that device was his backup power. Would he normally run off 220v do you think?

 

Perhaps he needed a backup for his backup supply.

[0ffshore360]

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Actually, in Thailand it usually does. Not even a second notice given.

 

Common for people to have their power shut off due to not getting the bill. One has to be very vigilant in keeping tabs on this.

Your experience may differ but in mine the local PEA issues a reminder and that is followed up by a visit by the meter reader.

If the  above does  not result in payment of arrears then at start of next billing/month the actual meter is removed.

Arrears owed plus a 100 bht reconnect/install is the only remedy unless properly negotiated.

Most PEA offices I have  entered also have  a counter that tries to accommodate  customers who have financial stresses.

 

 

 

[Confuscious]

1 hour ago, Muhendis said:

I guess that device was his backup power. Would he normally run off 220v do you think?

 

Perhaps he needed a backup for his backup supply.

https://meubon.com/products/portable-1l-6l-continuous-flow-mini-use-with-2-hours-battery?variant=41292946407629&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwpbi4BhByEiwAMC8JnTBmrybxPZPPl-5SiMl4liJXwihuDMMXKPQ1p3QOs67dxaCOYYkYIxoCq3AQAvD_BwE

Lots of portable oxygen generators on Google.

[pacovl46]

On 10/14/2024 at 1:32 PM, 0ffshore360 said:

Devoid of historical evidence other than admission of failure to notify PEA of critical dependence on supply nor reason for such.

Failing to pay an electricity bill does not eventuate in a sudden summary  disconnection.

 

If you don't pay for long enough they will eventually cut off your power!