Nearly one-third of residential customers among the state's five largest utilities had past-due bills as of August, according to data provided to the commission. Consumer advocates and those who manage programs to assist customers, such as the Dollar Energy Fund, are warning those facing shutoff notices to not wait until the last minute to get help. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric, gas or water provider. The Biden administration is pushing for more economic relief, but has not yet committed to stopping shut-offs. May 7, 2020: Free and affordable Internet access and devices are crucial for low income students as they transition to learning from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial effect of the pandemic has hit utility customers hard in California, a state that is home to one of the highest electricity rates in the country. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. But she learned that if you fall behind on those payment plans, it can be lights out. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. Southern California Edison Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, San Diego Gas & Electric Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, Bear Valley Electric Service Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, Liberty Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Page, PacifiCorp California Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, The Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website for small businesses. Also, utilities may assign delinquent customer debts to licensed collection agencies under the authority provided inRCW 19.16.500and pursuant to a written contract with a licensed agency. of Cty. Wolf told commissioners he knew the moratorium couldnt continue indefinitely, but he urged them to continue the protections that are in place for low-income Pennsylvanians. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. Small business customers may also qualify for payment plans that include arrearage forgiveness. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. Utilities - Billing and Collection. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. She also noted that the 9,500 customers represented the number of meters that would be shut off, and that more people whoresided in any of those households were also at risk of losing service. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. February 22 2023. Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. Utilities have argued an extension would make it more likely customers would fall further behind on their bills, which could result in utilities passing on those losses to all ratepayers. 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. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. . As a quick refresher, take a look at MRSCs Collection Practices for Delinquent Utility Accountswebpage, our Utility Liens and Shutoffs Tool, and our February 22, 2021 blog:A Quick Guide to Utility Account Overcharges, Undercharges, and the Statute of Limitations. If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. Your electric or gas utility may be able to arrange a new payment plan that you can afford and, at the same time, the utility can also check your eligibility to participate in a range of payment assistance programs (see discussion below about available residential electric or gas payment assistance programs). Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. Customers should make payments toward their utility bills if they can. By February 25, 2021, IOUs shall submit drafts of Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC staff (, Jan. 22, 2021: Comments on Draft Resolution M-4849. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. 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. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for SBA disaster assistance programs online or seek assistance from SBAs Customer Service Center at 1-800-569-2955/1-800-877-8339 (TTY). Sign up today for a digital subscription. September 7, 2021
For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. PSC Chair Rebecca Cameron Valcq highlighted the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year. Inflation and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine are driving up fossil fuel prices and in turn energy rates for customers across the country this winter. But the majority of these orders are . of King v. Ne. But in cities and towns all around the country in Texas, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, and more utilities have resumed cutting off water when people cant afford to pay. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. For more information, please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. Visitwww.mass211.orgor dial 211 to find your local agency. John Fetterman, a progressive who is running for U.S. Senate in 2022, said utility companies should be cooperative and understanding with Pennsylvanians in need. 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. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. ones. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The Washington State Department of Commerce has assembledresources for utility customers behind on their payments, and the Washington Department of Healths Office of Drinking Water has a customer assistance program. As state COVID-19 lockdown orders from Gov. Not only did many customers with overdue bills not set up payment plans with their utility companies, they also did not seek much help in coming up with the money. 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. A recent report by Duke University researchers found that, if utility disconnections had been barred nationwide from March through November 2020, COVID-19 infections rates could have been reduced by 8.7% and deaths by 14.8%. FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions. "It just makes this problem compounding for the individual, and it's making the utility look like more of a bad guy in my eyes.". In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. "I asked a neighbor if I could plug in an extension cord to my refrigerator, just to keep it cold so I don't lose my groceries," she said. Gov. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Energy utilities will apply for CAPP assistance on behalf of customers who incurred a past due balance of 60 days or more on their energy bill during the COVID-19 pandemic relief period covering March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. Links to the 2020 briefing decks presented to CPUC and CAL FIRE can be found on the utility websites below. Customers who need payment assistance should contact their utility as soon as possibleto ask about Deferred Payment Agreements (DPAs), and to learn what other assistance is available. This chart from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)provides more detailed household income information. There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. In other words, they do not prohibit your payment plans from including interest or late fees for missing a payment after the effective date of the payment plan. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. Water and electrical services have a statutory lien under RCW 35.21.290, but enforcement of the lien is limited to shutting off the utility by RCW 35.21.300. Cities like Madison and progressive groups have urged the commission to extend its moratorium on utility disconnections, arguing people can't stay safe or thrive without service. Other CPUC Actions As Californians are sheltering at home, residential electric usage has increased 15 to 20 percent in recent weeks compared to the same period last year. For businesses, the plan ensures that the monthly payment does not exceed 10 percent of the customers average monthly bill. "I just want some time to get my money," she said. 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. Customers who are interested in installing solar panels or enrolling with community solar programs should visit the AGs Office FAQ with consumer tips at mass.gov/ago/solar. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. The state regulator also approved a plan that requires utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric to automatically enroll customers who are lagging on monthly payments into a two-year debt relief program. However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. For more information about which programs you may be eligible for, use DCA's screening tool. Please let us know how we can improve this page. With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. Can it be done by appointment? If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. In addition to requesting assistance from your electric or gas utility, residential customers should also contact their local community action agency, as there may be funds available to assist households who earn more than 60 % of the state median income, but still need assistance paying their bills. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. The commissioners did not heed that call. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. In addition, 2020 collection reports for the individual Electric Distribution Companies (EDC) and Gas Distribution Companies (GDC) are available via NJBPU's Public Document Searchtool. The decision essentially meant gas and electric utilities would be barred from disconnecting service through April 15, since the state's winter moratorium takes effect Nov. 1. Customers should consider the following: Replaced outdated light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified light bulbs. Electricity and Gas are essential servicesthats why it is important that customers know their rights and where they can go for help if they need it. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. The decision also calls on utilities to document follow-up efforts with community-based organizations to make sure hard-to-reach customers can sign up for relief programs. Many residents are struggling to pay their bills, including their monthly utility bills, following the COVID-19 crisis and due to the currently high fossil fuel prices. The move comes after S.C. Gov. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. Here are prices in 10 communities, Charge by night, discharge by day: Electric school buses in El Cajon will send power to the grid, VMware, Broadcom rise; Marvell, Bumble fall, Initial public offerings scheduled to debut next week, Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, The implications of Walgreens decision on abortion pills, Nan Goldin is going to the Oscars, and she wants to win, World Bank: Quake caused damage worth $5.1 billion in Syria. Where available, the fact sheet provides links to federal program webpages and funding allocations to state, territorial, Tribal, and local grantees. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and New Jersey has again extended its moratorium on companies shutting off residents' utilities through June 30, as the state continues to cope with the coronavirus pandemic one year after the . Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. Last month, regulators voted 2 to 1 to extend a temporary moratorium on utility shutoffs during the COVID-19 crisis for residential customers until Nov. 1. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. of Cty. of King v. Ne. June 30, 2021: Emergency Customer Protections expire. COVID-19
You should also closely review your electric and gas utility bills to determine whether you are buying your electric or gas supply from your utility or from another entity, often called a competitive supplier. Water Utilities Will Not Be Able To Disconnect Service After PSC Vote. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. (Rob Nikolewski/The San Diego Union-Tribune), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, California Public Utilities Commission passed an extension, extended the moratorium earlier this year, one of the highest electricity rates in the country, California Alternate Rates for Energy, or CARE, and the Family Electric Rates Assistance, or FERA programs, Is your utility bill going to get even higher?
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