CALGARY — A fatality inquiry has been told that a Calgary man who froze to death in his home after his gas was turned off could have gotten help from a little-known advocacy group.
Allan McLean says his group, the Utilities Consumer Advocate, acts as a “last resort” in resolving disputes between consumers and utility providers.
But McLean says John Davis never contacted his office, which only learned of his death through media reports of the inquiry.
Davis, 58, died Nov. 24, 2006, when overnight temperatures plunged to —20 C.
His gas had been disconnected the previous June for non-payment.
Even though his mother had paid his outstanding balance he was told he’d need to provide a security deposit and reconnection fee of $81.50.
Davis made several attempts to be reconnected, but took no steps to pay the amount, which could have mostly been offset by a $72.95 overpayment by his mom, which was refunded to him in September.
McLean told inquiry lawyer Nancy McCurdy his group’s mandate is to assist consumers in their dealings with gas and electric utilities, including helping get reconnected.
He said while the group acts as a go-between, it sides with consumers in any disputes.
“We are an advocate — we clearly take the side of the consumer and are biased in favour of the consumer,” he said.
McLean agreed with provincial court Judge Bruce Millar his group is not widely known in Alberta, and one way to rectify that would be to provide the group’s phone number on disconnection notices.
Millar will now receive written arguments from counsel for Atco Gas and Direct Energy before filing his inquiry report.
He can make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future, but cannot find fault over Davis’ death.