When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC) shows there are now 38 states where the moratorium on shutoffs has expired or is voluntary for utility companies. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The proclamations required these utilities to developCOVID-19 customer support programsthat would address payment plan options for residential customers who are in arrears due to COVID-19-related circumstances. The AGO strongly urges any Massachusetts consumer who considers signing up with a competitive supplier to read the AGOs FAQs on electric supply options here. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. OLYMPIA, WA - With a bipartisan 64-31 vote, the Washington State House passed a bill to ensure a utility operator cannot shut off power or water when the National Weather Service issues a heat-related warning or alert. And while they applied to water and sewer districts as well as other municipally-owned utilities, the proclamations did not specifically include sewer or stormwater services. It allowed utilities to resume shutoffs on Nov. 9 but the ban was lifted for only three weeks before the annual winter shut-off went into effect on Dec. 1. In accordance with the approved plans, utilities are communicating with customers about imminent protection expiration, providing support to customers transitioning off of customer protections, and helping customers enroll in applicable assistance programs. Hochul announces rollout of electric and gas utility bill credits for But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. If you are a customer of a municipal utility, call your municipal utility immediately to ask about any assistance programs that may be available. We will use this information to improve this page. Steve Gross But tens of millions of people are continuing to accumulate tens of billions of dollars of overdue utility bills. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. At least 30 days before assigningdebt, theutility must first attempt to notify the debtor of the existence of thedebtand that thedebtmay be assigned to a collection agency if not paid. "I'm charging my cell phone in my truck when I can. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. The proclamations did not prohibit disconnecting sewer and storm services (if practical) for non-payment. The utility reported to the commission that 495 out of its roughly 3,000 customers would be eligible for disconnection. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. Pa. utility shut-off notice: Here's what you can do if you're at risk. If your household income is 60% or less of the state median income, you are eligible for LIHEAP. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. For small business customers of an investor-owned utility, enrolling in a payment plan may protect your business from electric or gas shut off if you cannot afford your current balance. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. California Public Utilities Commission If you qualify as income eligible, there are several programs, including: (1) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program that helps Massachusetts residents pay their heating bills; (2) the low-income discount rate program for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers; and (3) arrearage management programs (AMPs) for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers. The New Jersey moratorium on gas and electric companies shutting off service due to non-payment during the coronavirus pandemic is set to expire at the end of the year and the state has sent . For water-sewer districts considering rate forgiveness,RCW 57.08.014requires the district to notify all ratepayers of the special rates and any associated cost shifts. The PUC approved a motion that will allow customers to set up payment plans with their utility companies that could extend for five years for low-income families and at least 18 months for small businesses. Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. It also notes where federal agencies have not yet provided critical details, such as how the program funds will be allocated and how programs will be structured. Other assistance programs for income-eligible customers are available year-round through investor-owned gas and electric utilities, including a low-income discount rate program, which helps make bills more manageable, and an arrearage management program (AMP), which helps customers who have an unpaid balance on their bill and are struggling to pay. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. Earlier this year, the commission reported that statewide enrollment in CARE has increased 13.6 percent and FERA enrollment shot up 45 percent. of Cty. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. Where available, the fact sheet provides links to federal program webpages and funding allocations to state, territorial, Tribal, and local grantees. June 30, 2021: Emergency Customer Protections expire. The AGO encourages you to contact your electric or gas utility if the recent COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted your household income because you may be newly eligible for other assistance programs. VIDEO: State regulators considering banning all electricity cutoffs for non-payment until next April. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. 505 Van Ness Avenue State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. A deadlocked Public Utility Commission earlier this month ensured utility companies could move forward with terminations starting April 1, potentially leaving low-income workers and students without a way to connect to their jobs or schools. Steve has worked in municipal law and government for over 20 years as an Assistant City Attorney for Lynnwood, Seattle, Tacoma, and Auburn, and as the City Attorney for Port Townsend and Auburn. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. LIHEAP is available this winter heating season from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. But since many utilities issue a combined utility bill it may be difficult to separate out services for which it can charge late fees from those it cannot. San Francisco, CA 94102, Utility Business Continuity Plans and PSPS Preparation, CPUC Mobilizes Community Based Organizations for Pilot Program To Help Consumers With Utility Debt, CPUC Executive Director Letter Concerning Extension of Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service Through February 15, 2022, CPUC Acts To Ensure Essential Utility Services for Consumers at Risk of Disconnections, CPUC Actions to Protect Customers During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Utility Disconnection Moratoria and Arrearage Management - Presentation at CPUC Voting Meeting, CPUC Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service through September 30, 2021, CPUC Provides Relief for Customers Who Have Energy Bill Debt, https://liob.cpuc.ca.gov/m-4849-utility-transition-plans/, Executive Director Letter to IOUs on Direction to Conduct Customer Data Validation for Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service (Resolution M-4848) Through July 15, 2021, CPUC Extends Emergency Utility Customer Protections and Takes Further Action To Address Energy Arrearages During COVID-19, California Cable & Telecommunications Association, CPUC Implements Consumer Protections to Assist Residential and Small Business Customers, Workshop on COVID-19 Impacts on Customers in the Energy Sector, President Batjer Letter to AT&T regarding Legacy DSL Services Retirement, CPUC Letter to ISPs re: Affordable Broadband Plan Subscription Information, Remarks on COVID-19 Actions from Energy Division Deputy Executive Director, CPUC Letter to Program Administrators on Guidance on Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings Assistance Program Suspensions, CPUC Issues Proposal for Additional Customer Protections Due to Non-Payment, CPUC Letter to ISPs on Affordable Broadband Plans to Support Customers Affected by the COVID-19 State of Emergency. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric, gas or water provider. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. Sign up today for a digital subscription. SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs to homes and small businesses while the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional help, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has a variety of programs that can help with energy bills, water and sewer bills, rent costs, eviction prevention, and more. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) If you are a small business customer that receives electric or gas service through a municipal utility, call your municipal utility to see what programs they offer to help avoid disconnection. In its decision, the commission said the combination of the moratorium extension and the two-year amortization plans will relieve customers of the threat of disconnection and put them on a path toward solvency.. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. If you received a shut-off notice from your electric or gas utility, call your utility immediately and ask to enroll in a payment plan. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. However, the question remains as to what actions local utilities can take to collect past-due amounts. This is true even if you are behind on rent. For many of us, the accelerating rollout of COVID-19 vaccines provides hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. Residential customers making payments under payment plans with their investor-owned electric or gas utility will remain protected from shut-off as long as they make payments under the payment schedule. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Bill Protecting Washingtonians From Utility Shutoffs During Extreme On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC John Bel Edwards is traveling to Asia for a weeklong series of meetings with business leaders and policymakers in the hopes of growing foreign investment, Stocks rallied on Wall Street, climbing to their biggest gain in six weeks, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. NRDC and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) have just published a new fact sheet summarizing six federal COVID-19 relief programs that are either dedicated to, or can be used for, low income water and wastewater assistance. Kathy Hochul announced the vast majority of $567 million dedicated to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past utility bills will be reflected on customers' August bills. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. In California, the reported $1 billion in overdue residential bills includes about $600 million for customers of water utilities or combined water/sewer utilities, and about $400 million for customers who receive a combined bill for water and power from the same utility. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. As past-due balances grow, the commission is asking gas, electric and water utilities to submit comprehensive plans for dealing with delinquent bills by Jan. 15. The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. The policy should consider the variables for each type of receivable with specific criteria and internal controls in place to assure that the utilitys assets (receivables) are being safeguarded. People can apply for assistance online at TRR's website or over the phone by calling the TRR call center at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368). March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. For more information, see Utilities and Landlord/Tenant Issues. SBA COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources, California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), News and Outreach Office HEAP Energy Assistance NYC311 - Government of New York City "I think that we could have been narrower, help those in need, prevent people from digging a bigger hole than they're already in, and eventually driving up rates for everybody," said Nowak. N.J. again extends ban on utilities shutting off power, gas, water to Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. In the first quarter of this year, more than 3.3 million residential customers of the states big four utilities have fallen behind on their bills: Applying SDG&Es figure to its overall residential customer total of about 1.326 million, that means 36.6 percent of SDG&E residential customers are in arrears. Those enrolled in certain other programs (including Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, USF, and Lifeline) are protected by the Winter Termination Program. Category: The Governor's Executive Order establishes a six-month grace period in which no residential customer will face disconnection of their gas, electric, or water services before the end of the grace period on December 31, 2021.