"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...

Friend of mine, is acting as caretaker for a family member's
house. The power got shut off, and the house is cold inside.

This seems unwise, viz. denies power to lamps and burglar/
fire alarms. Many insurance carriers deny coverage when
electricity is shut off. Canadian houses empty for a week to
several months in winter usually maintain elec. connections
and set furnace heat at 45 to 50 deg. Fahr., with an alarm to
report if the electricity should fail.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)