PUC investigates carbon monoxide deaths

Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

The Public Utilities Commission is investigating how Nevada Power dealt with a family that died from carbon monoxide poisoning last week after their power was shut off, commission officials said.

"We will look at everything that led to the termination," Rick Hackman, manager of the commission's Consumer Complaint Resolution Division, said.

Hackman said the investigation is mainly looking at "whether (Nevada Power) followed the commission's guidelines for noticing individuals their power will be shut off."

Under Nevada administrative code, utilities must give customers 10 days and then 48 hours' notice of a power shut-off.

"This gives customers time to pay the bill, or if they cannot pay the bill, to take other precautions," Hackman said.

Joel "Kelly" Wood, 34, his wife, 35-year-old Stephanie Wood, and Stephanie's 13-year-old daughter, Kaela Christiansen, were found dead in their home Thursday, a day after Nevada Power shut off their electricity.

The family was using a gasoline powered generator for electricity. However, the generator was enclosed in the garage and the toxic carbon monoxide fumes from the generator filled the house on the 8800 block of Spinning Wheel Avenue near El Capitan Way and Fort Apache Road.

The family's three dogs, two cats and chinchilla also died from the carbon monoxide poisoning.

Nevada Power spokeswoman Andrea Smith confirmed the family had their power shut off but said the Woods were properly noticed. She said privacy rules regarding customer accounts prohibited her from saying why the power was shut off.

Memorial services for the family are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Las Vegas.

Friends and neighbors have remembered them as a tight-knit family who loved the outdoors, camping and hunting.