This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. One possibility is that you are participating in your city or towns community choice electric plan. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to ban all utility disconnections until next April. Other CPUC Actions COVID-19 concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved by Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? 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. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also. But tens of millions of people are continuing to accumulate tens of billions of dollars of overdue utility bills. 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. Tom Wolf, who opposes lifting the moratorium. "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. If one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. 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 didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. Is there a process for cities to write-off bad debt? Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. We will use this information to improve this page. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. PRA/OPMA E-Learning Courses Free video courses for city/town elected officials on the Public Records Act (PRA) and Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. These funds can help millions keep their water running and dig out from a mountain of utility debt, while helping utilities offset decreased revenue without raising rates. Plus, if they wish to accelerate or make larger payments, they may do so. 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. VIDEO: State regulators considering banning all electricity cutoffs for non-payment until next April. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. 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. Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Power are taking the step until further notice. "You don't get medical pay period when you are a temp worker," she explained. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. A federal program can help. In addition to your utility, you can contact the Department of Public Utilitiesat877-886-5066, or completetheir online complaint form. DHCD has a toll-free hotline,1-800-632-8175, that is multi-language and will quickly direct you to your local community action agency that can help answer additional questions about eligibility and process your LIHEAP application. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. If you are a residential customer struggling to pay your utility bills, behind on your payments, or interested in more regular payments, reach out to your electric or gas utility to discuss available payment plans and payment assistance programs that may be available. We offered specific program design recommendations to deliver assistance to those with the greatest need; maximize public health benefits by using program funds to protect access to essential water service; ensure accountability for program spending by states and utilities; and generate data to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and determine how to improve upon it. You must re-apply each year and meet the qualifications to receive a HEAP benefit. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. Eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service. 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. "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.". Valcq pointed out that similar assistance programs do not exist for water customers. September 7, 2021 The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. For more information, please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. The Proclamation 20-23 series (the proclamations) only applied to energy, telecommunications, or water services. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. The financial impact of the pandemic has been devastating for many in our community and helping our customers by providing flexible payment options and access to bill assistance resources has been a priority for us, Prince said in an email. March 20, 2020: The CPUC has temporarily waived the hard copy filing requirements for our Advice Letter process. 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. The move comes after S.C. Gov. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) Gov. 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). Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Most of the assistance is provided through new, emergency programs, although some is provided through pre-existing programs. 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. For many of us, the accelerating rollout of COVID-19 vaccines provides hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. Sign up today for a digital subscription. She cited lower unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates, and pointed to the latest federal stimulus among the reasons the moratorium could be lifted. 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. The electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. Customers should consider the following: Replaced outdated light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified light bulbs. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. 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. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. 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. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. 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. 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 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. But utilities will have to balance their need to maintain their revenue stream with the reality that some of their customers may not have the ability to pay the past-due debt and keep up with current expenses. Source: Executive Order No. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Aug. 13, 2020, at 12:14 p.m. Bills to Stop Paying During Coronavirus. Municipal Elections Running for Office This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. 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. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. It can reduce electric bills 30 to 35 percent. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The more you pay now the less you will have to make up later. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. 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). 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. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. 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. The commissioners did not heed that call. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. Consumer advocates want to make sure all utilities are required to offer longer payment plans and forgive debt. 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 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. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. As an alternative to the collection provisions in that section, RCW 36.94.150(3) allows the county to adopt the procedures in RCW 35.67.290 for collection. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. 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. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. Find information on what the CPUC and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities during these challenging times. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. The update also adds a link to the Washington State Department of Healths Customer Assistance Program. If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. 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. It appears that sewer and storm utilities are not prohibited from charging late fees and interest (depending on the utilitys rate schedule) for any past-due amounts. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. 1990)]. Remember that for city-owned utilities,RCW 35.67.210 and RCW 35.67.215 apply to sewage liens. 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. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. 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. Gavin Newsom went into effect in March 2020, the utilities commission announced power companies could not disconnect services to customers for one year. If you do not qualify for a low-income program, contact your electric or gas utility to learn about deferred payment arrangements. 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. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program. 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. Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. In addition, any Massachusetts consumer who signs a contract with a competitive supplier should actively monitor their electric supply costs each month to ensure the rate that the supplier charges them is the same rate that was agreed to under the contract. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Seattle firefighters battle massive Lake City building fire for hours, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies after brain aneurysm at 61, Thieves lose ATM ripped out of Lakewood credit union. The CPUCs oversight consists of ensuring that the utilities are clear about the rules they must adhere to, monitoring the utilities preparation, and evaluating their implementation. Income eligibility is evaluated based on your gross household income for the past 4 weeks. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 2023 www.goerie.com. More than 1 million customers were eligible for termination when Wolf sent the letter a month ago. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. The actions are in response to customers who are unable to pay their utility bills during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Utilities - Billing and Collection. * Unsurprisingly, when California examined its statewide data, low-income communities of color had disproportionately high levels of household water debt. Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Customers should make payments toward their utility bills if they can. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. The fact sheet describes what is currently known of the program and will be updated as HHS releases more information. You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. Hous. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. 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. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. ones. Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! 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. For businesses, the plan ensures that the monthly payment does not exceed 10 percent of the customers average monthly bill. 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).
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