This blog is co-authored by Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (National Consumer Law Center). The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. This partnership was previously. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy 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. 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. 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 bill also extends the time for cities and counties to impose a sewage lien: A sewage lien may exceed six months' delinquent charges without the necessity of any writing or recording if collection of charges was impacted by the declaration of an emergency by the governor. 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. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. BGE Customers With Disconnected Service Can Get Service Restored During COVID-19 Pandemic. June 30, 2021: Emergency Customer Protections expire. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Find information on what the CPUC and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities during these challenging times. 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. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. 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. You must re-apply each year and meet the qualifications to receive a HEAP benefit. 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. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. April 30, 2021: CPUC Approves Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plans. 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. CARE is available to customers whose total household income is at or below specific income limits, such as $52,4000 for a family of four. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. Source: Executive Order No. All rights reserved. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. 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. On-Demand Webinars Watch pre-recorded versions of our recent webinars, at your own convenience. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. 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. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. Most Massachusetts investor-owned electric and gas utility companies offer deferred payment arrangements which allow the customer to set up a customized, manageable payment plan. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, state and local governments have barred utility companies from shutting off services such as gas, electric and water. 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. South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. 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. We are using lanterns to get ready for work.". One possibility is that you are participating in your city or towns community choice electric plan. San Diego Gas & Electric residential customer bills. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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. 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. 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. These pages cover more specific details that depend on the type of utility, and its critical that you use the right tools for your specific type of jurisdiction and type of utility. 2023 Cox Media Group. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. COVID-19 Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. 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. You can also follow us on social media: Electric and Gas Arrearages Summary as of October, 2022 (PDF). PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. Other assistance programs for income-eligible customers are available year-round through investor-owned gas and electric utilities, including a low-income discount rate program, which helps make bills more manageable, and an arrearage management program (AMP), which helps customers who have an unpaid balance on their bill and are struggling to pay. Earlier this month, Gov. 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). MRSC offers a wide range of services to local governments and our contract partners in Washington State. 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. 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. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. September 7, 2021 For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. The move comes after S.C. Gov. For more information, see Utilities and Landlord/Tenant Issues. Details wont be finalized until the governor approves the budget and the commission will take the $1 billion payments into consideration in a later proceeding. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. 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 . But the majority of these orders are . 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. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. Payment plans can help avoid service shut-offs. You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. In these unsettling and unprecedented times, many people are Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year. 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. of Cty. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. With clear criteria, the governing body can delegate the authority to write-off the debt to staff without further involvement from the governing body. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. California has been here before, Feds using enhanced surveillance to see whats behind the natural gas spike in California, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. of King v. Ne. If one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. 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 . Please limit your input to 500 characters. 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 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. 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. February 27 2023, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. February 22 2023. Sign up now! Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. As state COVID-19 lockdown orders from Gov. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. 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. during these challenging times. 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. 2023 www.goerie.com. Municipal Elections Running for Office Remember that for city-owned utilities,RCW 35.67.210 and RCW 35.67.215 apply to sewage liens. according to data provided to the commission, Wisconsin utility regulators discontinue remaining COVID-19 protections for customers, Two of Wisconsin's largest utilities reach deal with groups as they seek to raise rates next year, Utility regulators want state's energy efficiency program to play a larger role in cutting emissions, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Wisconsin, Latest COVID-19 data shows hospitalization, death rates low, infection rates up among vaccinated, Lawyer who oversaw Trump elector scheme in Wisconsin reappointed to judicial advisory panel, Court orders Green Bay to stop using audio devices while lawsuit plays out, UW System President Jay Rothman to seek in-state tuition increase, Capital budget would offload 4 state office buildings, From 'Magic the Gathering' to computer coding manuals, these are the books banned in Wisconsin prisons, Landowners sue Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders to reopen roads blocked for a month, Wisconsin natives aged gouda is 'best cheese' in America, contest says, As budget negotiations begin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos downplays Wisconsin's surplus, Federal lawsuit challenging Eau Claire schools transgender policy dismissed, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Steve Gross 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. Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . With one call or click you can get a personalized answer from one of our trusted attorneys, policy consultants, or finance experts! Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. "You don't get medical pay period when you are a temp worker," she explained. Please do not include personal or contact information. Some page levels are currently hidden. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. That guidance was incorporated into Proclamation 20-23.6 to help utilities create their own programs. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. "When we have public health experts telling us that one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the virus is frequent hand washing, I don't know how in good conscience and based on that public health guidance we can allow utility service to be disconnected," said Valcq. 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. Only eight states have statewide water shutoff moratoria in place today. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. 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 Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. 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. 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 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. and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. For water-sewer districts considering rate forgiveness,RCW 57.08.014requires the district to notify all ratepayers of the special rates and any associated cost shifts. 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. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. 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. 505 Van Ness Avenue 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. Visitwww.mass211.orgor dial 211 to find your local agency. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? John Bel Edwards is traveling to Asia for a weeklong series of meetings with business leaders and policymakers in the hopes of growing foreign investment, Stocks rallied on Wall Street, climbing to their biggest gain in six weeks, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Sign up today for a digital subscription. 8, even as sewage contamination led to closures for 35 days last year. Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. 1990)]. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "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.". Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut offif the utility service is needed to heat your homeand you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. 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. "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. 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. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. 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. Commissioners said utility companies may forgive a portion of the debt for low-income customers who stay current on their payments. Heres how to apply, Suspicions of manipulation in the natural gas market? For more information about which programs you may be eligible for, use DCA's screening tool. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. Utilities - Billing and Collection. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program.
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