Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. This chart from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)provides more detailed household income information. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. The PUC approved a motion that will allow customers to set up payment plans with their utility companies that could extend for five years for low-income families and at least 18 months for small businesses. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? 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. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. 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. Aug. 13, 2020, at 12:14 p.m. Bills to Stop Paying During Coronavirus. 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. "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.". The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. 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. In addition to your utility, you can contact the Department of Public Utilitiesat877-886-5066, or completetheir online complaint form. * Unsurprisingly, when California examined its statewide data, low-income communities of color had disproportionately high levels of household water debt. On-Demand Webinars Watch pre-recorded versions of our recent webinars, at your own convenience. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. 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 you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. 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). A lock icon ( 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. For more information, please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. 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. In addition, any Massachusetts consumer who signs a contract with a competitive supplier should actively monitor their electric supply costs each month to ensure the rate that the supplier charges them is the same rate that was agreed to under the contract. California Public Utilities Commission April 30, 2021: CPUC Approves Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plans. (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? Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. 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. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. 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. 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. Bills You Don't Have to Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic 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. We know the effects of COVID are still very much front and center for many consumers, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said. 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. She cited lower unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates, and pointed to the latest federal stimulus among the reasons the moratorium could be lifted. 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. HEAP is a seasonal program. Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. The financial impact of the pandemic has been devastating for many in our community and helping our customers by providing flexible payment options and access to bill assistance resources has been a priority for us, Prince said in an email. Electricity and Gas are essential servicesthats why it is important that customers know their rights and where they can go for help if they need it. 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. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. Heres how to apply, Suspicions of manipulation in the natural gas market? Payment plans can help avoid service shut-offs. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. LIHEAP is available this winter heating season from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. Sign up today for a digital subscription. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. February 27 2023, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. 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. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. 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. Only eight states have statewide water shutoff moratoria in place today. 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 White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. 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 Also, utilities may assign delinquent customer debts to licensed collection agencies under the authority provided inRCW 19.16.500and pursuant to a written contract with a licensed agency. You may want to consider adopting a policy that will authorize you to write-off uncollectible debt. 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. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney and Director, Urban Water Infrastructure, People & Communities Program. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. 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 proclamations said that customers "shall not be charged" late fees for energy, telecommunications, or water services between March 23, 2020, and September 30, 2021. (Getty Images) Paying . If a small business enrolls in an electric or gas payment plan with its investor-owned utility company and the business makes its payments, it will be protected from electric or gas service disconnection for the duration of the payment plan. 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. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not announced program rules or released funds to the states. 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. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . 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. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 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. 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. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. Auth. Hochul announces rollout of electric and gas utility bill credits for As past-due balances grow, the commission is asking gas, electric and water utilities to submit comprehensive plans for dealing with delinquent bills by Jan. 15. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. 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. 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. 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 you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. The California legislature approved the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) in the 2021-2022 State Budget. The state Department of Human Services has worked with counties to make available the money in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the $270 million infusion to LIHEAP from the federal American Relief Plan. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. California utilities commission extends moratorium on power shutoffs You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. Under state law, water utilities can still collect past-due bills by putting those expenses onto the property tax roll. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. At least one of those states (Wisconsin) is set to end its moratorium on April 15, placing over 20,000 households at risk of shutoff. 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. This new law provides several important safeguards for residential utility customers by: prohibiting shutoffs during the COVID-19 state of emergency for non-payment of a utility bill;. 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. 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. 229; Executive Order No. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program. 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. Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist., 784 P.2d 1284 (Wash. Ct. App. We will September 7, 2021 You can also go towww.heatinghelpma.orgto find more information about your local community action agency and eligibility. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. 1990)]. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. For small business customers of an investor-owned utility, enrolling in a payment plan may protect your business from electric or gas shut off if you cannot afford your current balance. Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. Can it be done by appointment? Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Preparation Plans The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. 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. Last month, Ayanna McClure learned how quickly landlords were filing eviction notices when the moratoriums expired. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. Help with Utilities | Texas Law Help Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What? Any person who is making good faith efforts should never have their services shut off, he said. We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our customers. 505 Van Ness Avenue 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. 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. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. What if I can't pay my water, gas, electricity, phone, or Internet bill 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. 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. 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. Try now to get LIHEAP funds, Dollar Energy Fund help or emergency assistance, they said. There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. New York Bans Utility Shutoffs during COVID-19 Emergency This blog is co-authored by Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (National Consumer Law Center). Check back for updates as more information becomes available. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. of Cty. Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year.
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