Under the terms of the CPUCs vote, utility companies will automatically enroll residential customers who are more than 60 days behind on their energy bills to a COVID-19 Residential Relief Payment Plan that will amortize their debt over a 24-month period. N.J. ban on utility shutoffs to end soon. Here's how to seek help if March 27, 2020: Joint Letters to IOUs re: Essential Wildfire and PSPS Mitigation Work, March 20, 2020: Business Continuity and COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Response Plans. The more you pay now the less you will have to make up later. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. Coronavirus in SC: Utilities stop shutoffs of water, power - The State MRSC has consolidated additional information in the Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans section of our COVID-19 Small Business and Tenant Assistance Programs webpage. ones. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The number of people affected is alarming, according to a letter sent to the commission from Gov. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. HEAP Energy Assistance NYC311 - Government of New York City 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. 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 . With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. If you get your electricity or gas from an individual competitive supplier and are paying a high rate,consider canceling your contract so that you may return to buying your electric and gas supply from your utility (often called basic service). This is true even if you are behind on rent. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. BGE Customers With Disconnected Service Can Get Service Restored During COVID-19 Pandemic. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. 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. If you do not qualify for a low-income program, contact your electric or gas utility to learn about deferred payment arrangements. of Cty. How to apply for rent and utility bill assistance in Texas Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. New York Bans Utility Shutoffs during COVID-19 Emergency What is a local government agency's responsibility to be available to accept legal papers served by a processor during COVID-19, especially when they have closed their offices to the public? 505 Van Ness Avenue 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. If you receive residential electric or gas service through a municipal utility, contact them directly to find out more about their shut-off policy and to hear about available payment assistance programs. Customers can opt out of the plan if they want. If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off, At all other times, if you are experiencing financial hardship. 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.. Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. 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%. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. Some individual water utilities are continuing to suspend shutoffs, even after state bans expire, while some others never do shutoffs at all for non-payment. PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. With clear criteria, the governing body can delegate the authority to write-off the debt to staff without further involvement from the governing body. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. Can't pay your power bill? Don't worry, you're safe for now as Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. These LIHEAP funds, combined with assistance from ERAP, will significantly reduce the impact of the lifting of the moratorium, and prevent potentially hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians from facing termination, Wolf said. Digging Into Public Works In-person regional forums and training resources for public works staff and local contractors. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. March 1 2023, Changes for 2022 Annual Reporting for Cash Basis Entities Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. 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. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. Ellen Nowak opposed the decision to prevent all water shutoffs during the winter months. Anyone facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to . 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. March 20, 2020: The CPUC has temporarily waived the hard copy filing requirements for our Advice Letter process. Using Electronic Signatures During Emergencies, Woodward says Spokane economic recovery continues, but problems loom. 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). Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. 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. The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. 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. (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? Illinois utilities shut off moratorium ends Wednesday; how to get help And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. Help with Utilities | Texas Law Help All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. All rights reserved. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. 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. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. 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. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). She cited lower unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates, and pointed to the latest federal stimulus among the reasons the moratorium could be lifted. 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. She's argued for more targeted solutions to provide assistance to customers in need, highlighting that utilities are required to work out a down payment plan with customers during the pandemic. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. According to research at Indiana University that looked at a nationally representative sample of households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, 20% of Black households and 28% of Hispanic households reported being unable to pay an energy bill between June and August 2020, compared to just 12% of white households. Share this webpage and the flyer below with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to spread the word. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off if the utility service is needed to heat your home and you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. 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. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. PSC Chair Rebecca Cameron Valcq highlighted the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. 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. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. 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. 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. Global travelers on Tripadvisor platform rank Coronado No. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. He said they're trying to work with customers on payment plans, but the decision means some customers will have $4,000 in outstanding bills by next April. The electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. Texas bans utility shut-offs during coronavirus outbreak | The Texas coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. One possibility is that you are participating in your city or towns community choice electric plan. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved Budget billing equalizes monthly payments over the course of 12 months so that you pay a predictable amount each month instead of seeing your bill amount fluctuate depending on the season, the price of energy, and customer usage. Additionally, the period in which the lien may be imposed was amended this year by the legislature (see HB 1069, section 15). 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. A lock icon ( A federal program can help. The Wolf Administration is working to get money provided by the December stimulus package and the American Rescue Plan in March out to qualifying renters and utility customers as quickly as possible to help with overdue balances, the governors press secretary Lyndsay Kensinger said. State extends utility cutoff protection through April 2021 Bill Protecting Washingtonians From Utility Shutoffs During Extreme 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. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. The good news is that the recent federal COVID-19 relief packages including President Bidens American Rescue Plan enacted in March 2021 provide billions of dollars that can help low-income families struggling to pay their water and sewer bills. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. To be eligible for your electric or gas utilitys low-income discount rate program or the arrearage management program (AMP), you must either qualify for LIHEAP funding, or receive food, cash, or medical benefits from the state. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. Gov. Municipal Elections Running for Office