The fact sheet provides a guide for advocates, utilities, and state and local officials who are seeking to help customers with past due and unaffordable water and sewer bills. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. This blog is co-authored by Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (National Consumer Law Center). 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. 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. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. For more information about the Winter Termination Program, call 800-624-0241. Utilities in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. Hous. 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. Gavin Newsom went into effect in March 2020, the utilities commission announced power companies could not disconnect services to customers for one year. Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. They should also check our Assistance Programs page for information about assistance programs or use the DCAid online screening tool to apply for financial assistance from the State of New Jersey. But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to ban all utility disconnections until next April. 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. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. 1990)]. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. 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. Where available, the fact sheet provides links to federal program webpages and funding allocations to state, territorial, Tribal, and local grantees. 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. 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. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. Customers with higher income levels will be offered payment plans of at least one or two years. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. 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. 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 . Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. 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. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC 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. The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. This chart from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)provides more detailed household income information. 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. 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. 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. Also ask your electric or gas utility if you qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program or any other payment assistance program. Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. 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. Gov. 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. 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. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. 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. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Using Electronic Signatures During Emergencies, Woodward says Spokane economic recovery continues, but problems loom. We are using lanterns to get ready for work.". Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. Earlier this year, the commission reported that statewide enrollment in CARE has increased 13.6 percent and FERA enrollment shot up 45 percent. of King v. Ne. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. Use this button to show and access all levels. 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.. All in all, 83 out of 578 water utilities submitted plans to shut off service for more than 9,500 customers. Customers can opt out of the plan if they want. 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. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. 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. If your household income is 60% or less of the state median income, you are eligible for LIHEAP. 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. 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. All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. 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. 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. 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. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. The actions are in response to customers who are unable to pay their utility bills during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Can a power company turn off power? Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. by Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. Remember that for city-owned utilities,RCW 35.67.210 and RCW 35.67.215 apply to sewage liens. "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. 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. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling. 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). Customers behind on their utility bills have three more months of assurance they will not get their power shut off for non-payment after the California Public Utilities Commission passed an extension on Thursday. 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. You can also follow us on social media: Electric and Gas Arrearages Summary as of October, 2022 (PDF). The California legislature approved the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) in the 2021-2022 State Budget. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. By February 25, 2021, IOUs shall submit drafts of Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC staff (, Jan. 22, 2021: Comments on Draft Resolution M-4849. https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. Eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. California Public Utilities Commission Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. If one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. The CPUC is taking action to ensure that this does not become an added hardship for people who have lost their jobs or are otherwise suffering economically due to COVID-19, including, but not limited to: Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) CPUC response letter that delays an already scheduled natural gas rate increase for Southern California Gas Company and SDG&E small business customers for 120 days to help reduce natural gas bills during the crisis. 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. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. 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. You must re-apply each year and meet the qualifications to receive a HEAP benefit. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. Visitwww.mass211.orgor dial 211 to find your local agency. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. 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. 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. 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. Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! 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. (Since interest is generally considered to be a penalty for non-payment it is probably included in late fees.). The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, No, your landlord cannot shut off your utilities. But she learned that if you fall behind on those payment plans, it can be lights out. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. A federal program can help. We will 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. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. 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. This is true even if you are behind on rent. of Cty. Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months.