can utilities be shut off during coronavirus 2021

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. 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. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 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. 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 . The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. 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. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. But tens of millions of people are continuing to accumulate tens of billions of dollars of overdue utility bills. Municipal Elections Running for Office Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC). California Public Utilities Commission The number of people affected is alarming, according to a letter sent to the commission from Gov. Can I get help paying my utilities? The order also applies to small-business customers who have bills at least 60 days past due. Shutoffs were allowed to resume Nov. 9 for some nonpaying customers, but existing commissionguidelines protected customers with income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. PG&E is submitting separate biweekly corrective action progress reports that can be found on the docket card of the CPUCs Public Safety Power Shutoffrulemaking. If you are struggling to pay your electric or gas utility bills, reach out to your utility to discuss available payment plans, arrearage forgiveness programs and other payment assistance programs. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. 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. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. In such circumstances, a lien may be filed for all charges due during the period covered by the declaration and may be effective for six months after the expiration of the declaration of the emergency. (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? 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. 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. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? NJBPUtook several other actions to issue guidance to the utility companies during the State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency, including: Water and Sewer Arrearages Summary as of September , 2022 (PDF). A second possibility is that you are receiving supply from a competitive supplier that markets and sells to individual customers. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. You can also follow us on social media: Electric and Gas Arrearages Summary as of October, 2022 (PDF). Earlier this month, Gov. To help bridge this divide, the CPUC approved a partnership with the Department of Education to fund $5 million in devices for students in need. of Cty. You may want to consider adopting a policy that will authorize you to write-off uncollectible debt. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. Those figures were roughly the same in April 2018. 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. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. And commissioners said utility companies told them many customers had not set up plans for repayment during the moratorium. The move comes after S.C. Gov. . Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. 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. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. SDG&E spokeswoman Sara Prince said the utility supports the CPUCs moves. But the majority of these orders are . 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. 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. 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. "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. A lock icon ( 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. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. Further, the prohibitions on disconnecting or refusing to reconnect these services was limited by the language of the proclamations to residential service, but the prohibition on charging late fees did not include that limitation. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. You skipped the table of contents section. of King v. Ne. 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. 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. 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%. Customers with higher income levels will be offered payment plans of at least one or two years. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? For more information, please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. 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. We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our customers. The Biden administration is pushing for more economic relief, but has not yet committed to stopping shut-offs. San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 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. , This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. The actions are in response to customers who are unable to pay their utility bills during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). 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. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities, current and historic basic service rates here, Frequently Asked Questions about Water Utilities During COVID-19, Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. Small business customers may also qualify for payment plans that include arrearage forgiveness. 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). https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. 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. by The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. Under the terms of the CPUC's 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. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. For more information, visit:https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Pages/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program.aspx, More:Fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians can gather without masks, but only in these situations, More:COVID-19 vaccine motivation: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts for showing vaccination card. An increase in your homes energy efficiency should result in lower utility bills over time. Water and other utility services already have been disconnected for at least hundreds of thousands families unable to pay these bills, with more at risk every day. 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). Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. 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.. Visithereor the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 to find your local community action agency where you can apply for LIHEAP. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to ban all utility disconnections until next April. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. 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. Only eight states have statewide water shutoff moratoria in place today. 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 one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. Lt. Gov. 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. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. 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. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. 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. But if you are falling behind on utilities, get help as soon as possible so you are not shut off. 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. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. By comparison, about 12 percent of customers had past-due balances in April 2019, amounting to $184million. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. 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. Some page levels are currently hidden. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. Gov. 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. The proclamations did not prohibit disconnecting sewer and storm services (if practical) for non-payment. PSC Chair Rebecca Cameron Valcq highlighted the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. Earlier this year, the commission reported that statewide enrollment in CARE has increased 13.6 percent and FERA enrollment shot up 45 percent. 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. Maybe. PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. Auth. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Income eligibility is evaluated based on your gross household income for the past 4 weeks. You can check outcurrent and historic basic service rates here. To leave anyone, especially children who rely on utilities to attend virtual school, without electricity or heat is unconscionable when these companies have guaranteed income and millions in revenue.. Aug. 13, 2020, at 12:14 p.m. Bills to Stop Paying During Coronavirus. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. Digging Into Public Works In-person regional forums and training resources for public works staff and local contractors. and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities New Jersey also has a COVID-19 Hotline staffed by trained healthcare professionals who are standing by to answer your questions, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week: To receive email updates from NJBPU,sign up here. Thursdays 5-0 vote extends the moratorium through the end of September for both residential and small-business customers. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. September 7, 2021 2023 Cox Media Group. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. 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. 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. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. 8, even as sewage contamination led to closures for 35 days last year. 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. update email soon. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. 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. Consumer advocates want to make sure all utilities are required to offer longer payment plans and forgive debt. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. As state COVID-19 lockdown orders from Gov. Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. (Since interest is generally considered to be a penalty for non-payment it is probably included in "late fees.") There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. 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. Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. CAPP dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts. Please do not include personal or contact information. 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. According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. (Getty Images) Paying . The California legislature approved the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) in the 2021-2022 State Budget. 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. Fields, meanwhile, has applied for pandemic aid through the state. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. Gavin Newsom went into effect in March 2020, the utilities commission announced power companies could not disconnect services to customers for one year. Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? 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. 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. LIHEAP is available this winter heating season from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We know the effects of COVID are still very much front and center for many consumers, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said. Thanks for signing up. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. June 30, 2021: Emergency Customer Protections expire. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process.