Tough questions are being asked in the wake of the hypothermia death of an 89-year-old Upstate woman after the electricity to her home was shut off.

Did the utility company act too hastily? Did it know the resident, Elizabeth Verdin of Greenville, was elderly and frail? Were any resources available that might have been used to help her pay her electric bill?

These and other questions still are being sorted out by Duke Power Co. and local and state officials who are looking into the tragedy.

Duke Power says it sent several notices to Mrs. Verdin before the power to her home was cut off. And even then, they didn't shut off the power until the temperature was forecast to be above 32 degrees for several days.

The company says it is continuing to examine its policies and has suspended shutting off power to any other customers until the review is complete. That is appropriate.

Several things that might make a difference in such cases already are clear, though, before any of the investigations are complete. For one, policies aimed at helping those who can't afford to pay their electric bills vary among utilities that serve different areas of South Carolina.

State legislators, who are among those asking questions, should enact legislation requiring uniform policies across the state. Lawmakers also should provide more money to ensure that the elderly, the infirm and the young don't suffer the effects of cold in winter or heat in the summer.

Not everything can be legislated, however. In Mrs. Verdin's case, her neighbors might have been able to prevent her death by occasionally checking on her. Few people want to nose into a neighbor's business, but sometimes it's necessary. One way to do this would be to call the police or other emergency responders.

In addition to checking on their neighbors, the public could help by participating in several programs that utility companies help administer. Duke Power has a Share the Warmth program, and the two utilities that serve Beaufort and Jasper counties also have programs.

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. has Project Share, Weatherization and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in which employees and customers participate, funneling money to a state program for energy assistance, according to a company spokesman.

Palmetto Electric Cooperative has Operation Round Up. Customers agree to round up their power bills to the next dollar, usually about 50 cents a month according to the cooperative's Web site. If everyone participated, $250,000 a year could be raised to pay for things like housing, education medical assistance and programs such as Meals on Wheels, the Web site states.

Everyone from the governor to the utility customer should be asking whether enough is being done to help the needy in cases like this.

It shouldn't take another sad reminder.