The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off if the utility service is needed to heat your home and you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. The 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. States should heed the same recommendations as they set up their own programs to administer LIHWAP funds. You can also go towww.heatinghelpma.orgto find more information about your local community action agency and eligibility. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. 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). 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. Global travelers on Tripadvisor platform rank Coronado No. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. Maintaining access to water and other essential utility services remains as vital as ever to safeguard public health, as the pandemic continues. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. 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. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. 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. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. 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. 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. If you qualify as income eligible, there are several programs, including: (1) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program that helps Massachusetts residents pay their heating bills; (2) the low-income discount rate program for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers; and (3) arrearage management programs (AMPs) for investor-owned electric and gas utility customers. With one call or click you can get a personalized answer from one of our trusted attorneys, policy consultants, or finance experts! 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) On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Hous. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. In the past MRSC has written that a utility is required to collect a past-due amount and that failing to do so may violate Article VIII section 7of the state constitution, which prohibits a government agency from gifting public funds. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. Utilities in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. Many residents are struggling to pay their bills, including their monthly utility bills, following the COVID-19 crisis and due to the currently high fossil fuel prices. 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. SBA COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources, California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), News and Outreach Office 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). 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. Please let us know how we can improve this page. On-Demand Webinars Watch pre-recorded versions of our recent webinars, at your own convenience. 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. In the past year, the CPUC and the states utilities stepped up efforts to get eligible customers to sign up for the California Alternate Rates for Energy, or CARE, and the Family Electric Rates Assistance, or FERA programs. 2023 Cox Media Group. Please visit the CSD website for more information. Sign up today for a digital subscription. But in cities and towns all around the country in Texas, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, and more utilities have resumed cutting off water when people cant afford to pay. 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. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. You may want to consider adopting a policy that will authorize you to write-off uncollectible debt. The more you pay now the less you will have to make up later. With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. But the majority of these orders are . and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities 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. 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. May 7, 2020: The CPUC temporarily modified rates for high energy use customers to minimize the impacts of electricity bills in the summer related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. No, your landlord cannot shut off your utilities. In Fields' case, her supplier put her on a payment plan so she could just pay a few dollars a month. "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.". Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. 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. 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. 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. 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). The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. The commissioners did not heed that call. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. Here are prices in 10 communities, Charge by night, discharge by day: Electric school buses in El Cajon will send power to the grid, VMware, Broadcom rise; Marvell, Bumble fall, Initial public offerings scheduled to debut next week, Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, The implications of Walgreens decision on abortion pills, Nan Goldin is going to the Oscars, and she wants to win, World Bank: Quake caused damage worth $5.1 billion in Syria. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling. Can a power company turn off power? Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Some page levels are currently hidden. Earlier this month, Gov. September 7, 2021 However, the question remains as to what actions local utilities can take to collect past-due amounts. Tom Wolf, who opposes lifting the moratorium. 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. If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC Category: Remember that for city-owned utilities,RCW 35.67.210 and RCW 35.67.215 apply to sewage liens. 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 . Thursdays 5-0 vote extends the moratorium through the end of September for both residential and small-business customers. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. March 20, 2020: The CPUC has temporarily waived the hard copy filing requirements for our Advice Letter process. Additionally, the period in which the lien may be imposed was amended this year by the legislature (see HB 1069, section 15). Gov. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. Customers should consider the following: Replaced outdated light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified light bulbs. John Fetterman, a progressive who is running for U.S. Senate in 2022, said utility companies should be cooperative and understanding with Pennsylvanians in need. Medical Information from healthcare professionals on symptoms, when to seek medical attention, and proper steps to take if exposed to COVID-19. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. 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. Lt. Gov. Auth. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. 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. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. Only eight states have statewide water shutoff moratoria in place today. You, or someone in your home, is seriously ill; You have an infant under 12 months in your home; and, All adults in the home are age 65 or older, Customers who are interested in installing solar panels or enrolling with community solar programs should visit the AGs Office FAQ with consumer tips at, This chart from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), 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. 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. Ellen Nowak opposed the decision to prevent all water shutoffs during the winter months. Can I get help paying my utilities? 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. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. by SDG&E asking regulator to increase rates starting next year, Heres how much lower your SDG&E bill might be in March, SDG&E kicks in $16 million of shareholder funds to help financially strapped customers, Behind on your SDG&E utility bill? Most significantly, for the first time ever, Congress in December 2020 and March 2021 appropriated funds specifically for low-income water and wastewater assistance a total of $1.138 billion for an emergency Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. 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. 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). For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Pages/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program.aspx, Fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians can gather without masks, but only in these situations, COVID-19 vaccine motivation: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts for showing vaccination card, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. For more information about the Winter Termination Program, call 800-624-0241. Southern California Edison Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, San Diego Gas & Electric Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, Bear Valley Electric Service Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, Liberty Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Page, PacifiCorp California Public Safety Power Shutoffs Webpage, The Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website for small businesses. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. Municipal Elections Running for Office CAPP dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months.