The proclamations said that customers "shall not be charged" late fees for energy, telecommunications, or water services between March 23, 2020, and September 30, 2021. Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. 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. "I just want some time to get my money," she said. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. ,
Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. Thanks for signing up. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? 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. Digging Into Public Works In-person regional forums and training resources for public works staff and local contractors. Utilities will be able to shut off services for people behind on bills In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. If your household income is between 60 to 80% of the state median income, you may be able to receive help from theGood Neighbor Energy Fund. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. Six utilities serving more than 21 million Californians have announced that they will not shut off customers' power for non-payment as the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life. Earlier this month, Gov. Using Electronic Signatures During Emergencies, Woodward says Spokane economic recovery continues, but problems loom. Visitwww.mass211.orgor dial 211 to find your local agency. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. The good news: After we confirmed to Fields' provider that she would be getting pandemic aid to pay the bill, the utility agreed to restore her electricity. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) 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. You skipped the table of contents section. If your household income is 60% or less of the state median income, you are eligible for LIHEAP. But tens of millions of people are continuing to accumulate tens of billions of dollars of overdue utility bills. Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. States should heed the same recommendations as they set up their own programs to administer LIHWAP funds. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. Customers behind on their utility bills have three more months of assurance they will not get their power shut off for non-payment after the California Public Utilities Commission passed an extension on Thursday. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Links to the 2020 briefing decks presented to CPUC and CAL FIRE can be found on the utility websites below. Also, if a customer enters into a payment plan with their provider, many . Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. That guidance was incorporated into Proclamation 20-23.6 to help utilities create their own programs. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. * Unsurprisingly, when California examined its statewide data, low-income communities of color had disproportionately high levels of household water debt. Source: Executive Order No. Texas regulators vote to ban residential utility shut-offs during pandemic while buoying companies The Texas Public Utility Commission approved an order Thursday that would ban. HARRISBURGThe moratorium on utility shutoffs expires at the end of the month, leaving more than 1 million Pennsylvania households at risk of losing their electricity, gas, water and telephone service. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. Can I get help paying my utilities? Customers can opt out of the plan if they want. February 22 2023. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Frequently Asked Questions about Electric and Gas Utilities, is, Frequently Asked Questions about Electric and Gas Utilities. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. 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. This new law provides several important safeguards for residential utility customers by: prohibiting shutoffs during the COVID-19 state of emergency for non-payment of a utility bill;. Payment plans can help avoid service shut-offs. The California legislature approved the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) in the 2021-2022 State Budget. N.J. again extends ban on utilities shutting off power, gas, water to The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. Gov. In New York City, the numbers reported include only water and sewer accounts that are at least 180 days overdue; the total of all overdue water and sewer bills in New York City is certainly much higher. The proclamations also did not prohibit any utility from disconnecting water, power, or telecommunications service if the customer does not comply with the terms of a payment plan. But Dutrieuille and the commission approved a motion that will allow customers to stretch out payment plans and keep on their services. At least one of those states (Wisconsin) is set to end its moratorium on April 15, placing over 20,000 households at risk of shutoff. Board of Public Utilities | Newsroom & Public Notices 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. Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. 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. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. Visit, For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities, In addition to your utility, you can contact the Department of Public Utilitiesat877-886-5066, or complete. 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. An additional "catch-all" category is also included for those who are unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control, such as unemployment or illness. Bills You Don't Have to Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. Automatic renewals often lead to customers paying higher rates. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). Pa. utility shut-off notice: Here's what you can do if you're at risk. "I'm charging my cell phone in my truck when I can. The policy should provide clear criteria for allowing the debt to be written off and should apply to all types of accounts receivable (water, sewer, garbage, court fines, and other fees and charges that the utility may impose). South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. The Energy 202: Biden under pressure to stop utility shutoffs during You may want to consider adopting a policy that will authorize you to write-off uncollectible debt. COVID-19
Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. 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. Share this webpage and the flyer below with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to spread the word. 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.
September 7, 2021
Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. 2023 www.goerie.com. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. On-Demand Webinars Watch pre-recorded versions of our recent webinars, at your own convenience. 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. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Plus, if they wish to accelerate or make larger payments, they may do so. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! LIHEAP is available this winter heating season from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. If you are unsure whether the supplier on your bill is part of a community choice electric plan, call or check your city or towns website to find out. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. April 30, 2021: CPUC Approves Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plans. Auth. MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves said the regulator is trying to be responsive to this really dynamic situation that were in, in recovering from this pandemic.. Pa. lifts moratorium on pandemic shutoffs and allows utilities to coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who cant pay through April 30, 2021. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. In addition, more than 5,000 utility customers statewide have received $2.8 million from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program that helps renters with unpaid bills and California was allocated $1.5 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act that homeowners can apply to utility bill relief. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. However, you may want to stay with your community choice program this winter because many cities and towns currently have electricity rates that are lower than the rate available from the electric company. Sign up now! To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. If one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. 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. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. State extends utility cutoff protection through April 2021 However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. Illinois' moratorium on utility shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic ends Wednesday, but there is still help available for anyone who needs assistance paying bills. Maybe. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. 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. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 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. We want all Massachusetts residents to be aware of thenew and expanded programs available to assist them in paying their home heating bills. This blog is co-authored by Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (National Consumer Law Center). 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. 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. CAPP dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts. 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 Utilities and Transportation Commission also. 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. Tony Evers invested $15 million in CARES Act funding to the state's Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program in order to help residents pay their heating bills. travels to Asia to strengthen business ties, How major US stock indexes fared Friday 3/3/2023, There is nothing warm and welcoming about it. San Diegos cruise ship terminal will get first makeover in 40 years, How to get your security deposit back in San Diego, Rapid reversal of price growth: San Diego home prices declining more quickly than other cities, San Diego rent increases are slowing. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. 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. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What? San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. The four-month lien limit on water services (enforceable only by water shut-off) is extended by: The period in which the lien may be imposed is the later of: (a) Three months from the expiration of the emergency declaration preventing collection or a lien; or (b) Three months of the ratepayer's failure to abide by the terms of an agreed payment plan, if the payment plan for past due charges would have allowed the ratepayer to repay the past due charges over a period of six months or more. 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 AMP provides customers with the opportunity to have all or a portion of an arrearage (or outstanding unpaid amounts due) forgiven in exchange for payments of an amount and on a schedule designed individually for each participant. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. Changes for 2022 Annual Reporting for Cash Basis Entities, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management, resources for utility customers behind on their payments, Collection Practices for Delinquent Utility Accounts, A Quick Guide to Utility Account Overcharges, Undercharges, and the Statute of Limitations. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. SoCalGas Request for Extension of Time to Comply with Ordering Paragraphs of Triennial Cost Allocation Proceeding for Small Business Customers in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, CPUC Works to Help Mitigate Higher Energy Bills Utility Customers May Receive Due to Shelter at Home, CPUC Letter to TNCs on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Response Plans, CPUC Letter to All County Executive Officers re: Essential Wildfire and PSPS Mitigation Work, CPUC Letter to Class C, D Water and Sewer Utilities on Emergency Customer Protections to Support Customers Affected by the COVID-19 State of Emergency, Executive Director's Letter to Wireless Providers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), SDG&E Directive to Provide Information on Planned Service Interruptions, SCE Directive to Provide Information on Planned Service Interruptions, PG&E Directive to Provide Information on Planned Service Interruptions, Executive Director's Letter to Energy Companies, Executive Director's Letter to Water Companies, Executive Director's Letter to Communications Companies, Executive Director's Letter to Rail Companies, CPUC Suspends Renewal Requirements for Low Income Energy and Telco Programs to Assist Customers During COVID-19 Epidemic, Practitioner Alert: COVID-19 Temporary Filing and Service Protocol, CPUC Public Meetings During COVID-19 Pandemic, Executive Directors Letter to Energy Companies, Executive Directors Letter to Water Companies, Executive Directors Letter to Communications Companies, Draft Resolution Ratifying the Executive Directors March 17 Letter; will be on April 16 Voting Meeting Agenda, Cancelled - CPUC Public Forums on SCE Rate Requests, 2020 Wildfire Mitigation and PSPS Preparation, 2020 Wildfire Mitigation and PSPS Preparation Presentation, Utility Consumer Protections During California COVID-19 Outbreak.