By Valerie D. Lockhart
SUN EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Santa Claus wasn’t feeling quite jolly last Christmas, after allegedly receiving a nasty letter from a big
corporation.
“I received a shut off notice from DTE Energy,” explained Claus. “I’ve also gotten several letters from
kids asking for heat. They weren’t asking for toys.”
Driving down from the North Pole, Santa parked his sleigh and joined in a protest sponsored by the
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization that was held outside of DTE’s downtown office on Christmas Eve.
“They make all these profits, and they’re cutting seniors, women and fathers with children lights
off,” said Gwen Gaines, of Welfare Rights. “Tony Early, DTE CEO, made $6 million. In the last two
weeks, they shut off 27,000 people’s lights. Even Santa Claus got a shut off notice.”
Dozens of protesters that included Claus, children, seniors, pastors and wheelchair bound citizens
endured the cold demanding that power and heat be restored to shut off customers.
“It’s immoral and criminal to shut people’s lights and heat off in this increment weather,” noted
Minister Malik Shabazz, founder of the New Marcus Garvey/Black Panthers Nation. “We’re the
number one country in the world economically and militarily, and yet human beings’ heat is cut off in
below zero weather. It’s a human rights violation, and I would like to see elected officials get involved
in this issue. Governor Jennifer Granholm can show up and show off in Detroit for a trial
on the mayor. But when it comes to heat, water, foreclosures and high insurance rates, she’s AWOL.”
While local and state government officials were AWOL from the protest, many residents made their
presence known waiving signs that accused DTE Energy of murder.
“If you think it’s good to freeze, come on down and live with me,” shouted one protester.
DTE Energy officials reportedly say that it is not their intent to put any of its customers out in the
cold and offer a Shut Off Protection Plan that has been ridiculed by some as a “death plan”.
Participants are required to make a down payment of 10 percent of the total balance, which must
be paid within 12 to 24 months. They are dropped from the program upon missing one payment and
are subject to shutoff.
“The plan sets low-income people like me up for failure,” said a protester, who wished to remain
anonymous. “My bill is over $4,000, because I can’t afford to get my furnace fixed and I have to use
space heaters. I only get $700 a month, and they want me to pay $425 every month. I have
to eat. I’m fighting to keep my home. Either way I’m out in the cold. What am I supposed to do?”
According to reports, over 25 percent of DTE’s low-income customers enrolled in the plan during
the winter months default on payments by July.
Holding a cane in one hand and a sign in the other, 84-year-old Alberta Neely, of Detroit, noted how
she received a shutoff notice.
“They’re crazy. They shouldn’t be cutting off gas and lights,” said Neely. “They said I owed $800, and
they took me off the budget plan. People are dying.”
Among the dead are 46-year-old Vaughn Reed and his three children, Mar’Keisha Reed, 17, DeMarco
Owens, 12, and DeMonte Owens, 7 who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, following a DTE
shutoff and having to resort to using a gas-powered generator.
Reed’s wife, Marquetta Owens and son DeMonte suffered from asthma that required usage of
nebulizers to assist them with breathing. As a result, the family acquired a generator to power the
medical devices.
Last month, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed the final five bills in a legislative package
providing increased protection from shutoffs for customers of municipal utilities in Michigan. Three
other bills in the package were signed on November 23.
Eligible low-income individuals and senior citizens are protected from utility shutoffs under the bills
and civil action can be taken against a municipal utility if a shutoff results in serious injury or death.
"In these tough economic times, more and more people are having difficulty paying their utility
bills," said Granholm. "Customers of municipal utilities now have the same protections against shutoffs
that customers of regulated utilities have."
Despite of Granholm’s actions, tens of thousands of DTE Energy customers remain without power
and heat.
“We’re demanding that DTE Energy turn the power back on at the home of every low-income
customer that they shut off,” said Maureen Taylor, state chair of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.
“No one should have to go home in the dark and cold. It’s inhumane. They’re profiting off of the poor.”
As strings of lights hanging from a Christmas tree outside of DTE’s office were shut off during the
daytime protest, it served as a grim reminder of the darkness many families face daily.
“Children shouldn’t have to worry about having lights and heat,” added Claus. “All they want this
year is a warm place to sleep and lights to see. DTE is taking away childlike joy. And, that’s why they’re
on the naughty list.”
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