Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
APU was on MEL so external electrical power was necessary upon arrival at the gate at GSP.  The ground agent attempted several times to connect power from the gate without success.  He then came to the cockpit where express directions were given to obtain a power cart and also to not let the fueler start fueling.  About 5 minutes later with the engine still running at the gate and no external power; I noticed the fuel level rising on the fuel gauges.  I immediately shut down the idling left engine.The fueler failed to notice both the beacon and the engine running on the aircraft before he approached the aircraft and hooked up his equipment.  The ground agent who I spoke with was at the nose of the aircraft about to hook up the external power.  He drove right by the fueler; but failed to notice and stop the fueler from hooking up his equipment.GSP has recently had poor oversight and management of its employees and also seems to be lacking enough personnel to handle [this type of aircraft]. The fueler needs additional training on aircraft beacons and how to recognize when an engine is still running.External power should be working on every arrival.
Air carrier Captain reported the ramp crew at GSP created an unsafe situation when they deviated from SOPs and began fueling with an engine running.