I agree with you. However I have to suspect such things became socially acceptable for the same reason school teachers (at least in the US) are required to report domestic violence and other issues (I forget which ones) by law. "Oh, you don't want this to happen, so you have to report it to us!" The power company is likely under similar legislation; though it might just be a wink-and-nod agreement. We live in a police state; it breaks my heart to be unable to love my own country because of this kind of shit. Ok, I love my country, not the people who enforce and write the 'laws'.