OFF HER ELECTRICITY DUE TO AN
UNPAID BILL.
NOW AN INVESTIGATION IS
UNDERWAY.
WE SPOKE WITH THE WOMAN'S
DEVASTATED DAUGHTER.
I THINK IT'S IMMORAL, I THINK
IT'S UNETHICAL.
AN ANGRY DESIREE MORGAN HEART
BROKEN OVER THE DEATH OF HER
MOTHER.
THE HOSPICE PATIENT WHO RELIES
ON AN OXYGEN TANK POWERED BY
ELECTRICITY TO BREATHE DIED LAST
THURSDAY SHORTLY AFTER SHE SAYS
PSE&E SHUT OFF THE POWER IN HER
MOM'S HOUSE BECAUSE OF AN
OVERDUE ELECTRIC BILL.
I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO
GO THROUGH HA WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH.
WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT IN
HER MOTHER'S HOME HERE ON
SHEPARD AVENUE THE TEMPERATURES
WERE IN THE 90s.
WITH HER MOM'S REGULAR OXYGEN
TANK INOPERABLE THE FAMILY
IMMEDIATELY HOOKED HER UP TO A
RESERVE PORTABLE OXYGEN TANK
THEN CALLED EMS WHO STAYED FOR
ABOUT AN HOUR.
THIS AS THE FAMILY FRANTICALLY
CALLED PSEG PLEADING FOR THEM TO
SEND SOMEONE TO TURN THE POWER
BACK ON.
WE KEPT SAYING THAT HER
RESERVE TANK FOR THE OXYGEN
DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME ON IT AND
THEY WERE SAYING WELL WE'RE
COMING.
WE'RE COMING.
LATER THAT DAY AROUND
4:00 P.M.
SHE SAYS SHE WATCHED
HER MOTHER DIE RIGHT IN FRONT OF
HER.
IT'S WRONG.
IT'S DEAD WRONG.
DESIREE WASHINGTON SAYS THE
POWER WAS NOT RESTORED UNTIL
9:00 A.M.
ON FRIDAY.
SHE SAYS PSE&G HAD BEEN INFORMED
THAT HER MOTHER HAD NECESSARY
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE HOUSE
BUT HAD NO PAPERWORK.
AND WHILE HER MOM MOST RECENTLY
DID HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BILL OF
$1,800 SHE SAYS BANK RECORDS
SHOW SHE HAD BEEN MAKING
PAYMENTS TO WHITTLE IT DOWN
INCLUDING THIS $500 PAYMENT AS
RECENTLY AS JULY 3RDrd.
IN A STATEMENT PSE&G SAID THEY
HAD NO INDICATION FROM THE
CUSTOMER OF A MEDICAL CONDITION
IN THE HOME PRIOR TO THE
DISCONNECTION.
WE NEVER WOULD HAVE DISCONNECTED
SERVICE HAD WE BEEN INFORMED OF
THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PSE&G SAYS THERE WILL BE A
COMPLETE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS
MATTER BUT ADDS THAT IT HAS MADE
26 ATTEMPTS TO NOTIFY LINDA
DANCES SINCE JANUARY OF 2018
