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. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. 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. 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. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy Keep updated on the latest news and information. Whats your favorite San Diego County beach? NEW! Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 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. All in all, 83 out of 578 water utilities submitted plans to shut off service for more than 9,500 customers. 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. 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. However, the question remains as to what actions local utilities can take to collect past-due amounts. FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . 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. Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. April 30, 2021: CPUC Approves Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plans. 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. 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). Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The move comes after S.C. Gov. 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. by 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. Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. For many of us, the accelerating rollout of COVID-19 vaccines provides hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. That guidance was incorporated into Proclamation 20-23.6 to help utilities create their own programs. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. 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. Tripadvisor picks two for top 10 in U.S. San Diego airport gets $20M federal infrastructure grant to help Terminal 1 remodel, Boeing CEO loses $7M bonus, keeps $22.5 million compensation, Louisiana Gov. "I think that we could have been narrower, help those in need, prevent people from digging a bigger hole than they're already in, and eventually driving up rates for everybody," said Nowak. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. MRSC offers a wide range of services to local governments and our contract partners in Washington State. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. For more information about which programs you may be eligible for, use DCA's screening tool. 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.. 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. 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 in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. Murphy was set to sign an executive order Monday that ends the 15-month moratorium on utility shut-offs on July 1, but creates a grace period through Dec. 31 for residents to sign up for a. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? In California, the reported $1 billion in overdue residential bills includes about $600 million for customers of water utilities or combined water/sewer utilities, and about $400 million for customers who receive a combined bill for water and power from the same utility. 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. ones. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. 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. Those figures were roughly the same in April 2018. Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. Maybe. September 7, 2021 Please limit your input to 500 characters. Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. Try now to get LIHEAP funds, Dollar Energy Fund help or emergency assistance, they said. It can reduce electric bills 30 to 35 percent. With clear criteria, the governing body can delegate the authority to write-off the debt to staff without further involvement from the governing body. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. Find information on what the CPUC and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities during these challenging times. (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? The proclamations did not prohibit disconnecting sewer and storm services (if practical) for non-payment. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. 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. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. 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. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. Medical Information from healthcare professionals on symptoms, when to seek medical attention, and proper steps to take if exposed to COVID-19. 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. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. , PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. 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). When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. Can I get help paying my utilities? And commissioners said utility companies told them many customers had not set up plans for repayment during the moratorium. https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. 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). Customers can opt out of the plan if they want. Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. 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. If your household income is 60% or less of the state median income, you are eligible for LIHEAP. 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) 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. 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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. "You don't get medical pay period when you are a temp worker," she explained. Cities like Madison and progressive groups have urged the commission to extend its moratorium on utility disconnections, arguing people can't stay safe or thrive without service. You can also go towww.heatinghelpma.orgto find more information about your local community action agency and eligibility. The Washington State Department of Commerce has assembledresources for utility customers behind on their payments, and the Washington Department of Healths Office of Drinking Water has a customer assistance program. 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. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. 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. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. of Cty. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. 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. Category: Also, if a customer enters into a payment plan with their provider, many . during these challenging times. The electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. 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. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. For more information, see Utilities and Landlord/Tenant Issues. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. But she learned that if you fall behind on those payment plans, it can be lights out. "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. Other CPUC Actions However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. More than 1 million customers were eligible for termination when Wolf sent the letter a month ago. 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. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? You can check outcurrent and historic basic service rates here. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. 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. Sign up today for a digital subscription. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. 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. According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt.