Thanks for signing up. Under state law, water utilities can still collect past-due bills by putting those expenses onto the property tax roll. You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. 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. of King v. Ne. But utilities will have to balance their need to maintain their revenue stream with the reality that some of their customers may not have the ability to pay the past-due debt and keep up with current expenses. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and 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. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. 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 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. But Dutrieuille and the commission approved a motion that will allow customers to stretch out payment plans and keep on their services. Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. When the remaining state or local moratoria are lifted, residential water customers who lose shutoff protections will face billions of dollars in arrears. Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our customers. We will use this information to improve this page. If you are a customer of a municipal utility, call your municipal utility immediately to ask about any assistance programs that may be available. 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. The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. 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. 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. Utilities in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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. Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Power are taking the step until further notice. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. This is true even if you are behind on rent. 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. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. Source: Executive Order No. 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. "I'm charging my cell phone in my truck when I can. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. An additional "catch-all" category is also included for those who are unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control, such as unemployment or illness. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. If your household income is 60% or less of the state median income, you are eligible for LIHEAP. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. 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. 1990)]. 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? Try now to get LIHEAP funds, Dollar Energy Fund help or emergency assistance, they said. If you get your electricity or gas from an individual competitive supplier and are paying a high rate,consider canceling your contract so that you may return to buying your electric and gas supply from your utility (often called basic service). Hous. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. Also ask your electric or gas utility if you qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program or any other payment assistance 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. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. And while they applied to water and sewer districts as well as other municipally-owned utilities, the proclamations did not specifically include sewer or stormwater services. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. * Unsurprisingly, when California examined its statewide data, low-income communities of color had disproportionately high levels of household water debt. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. Massachusetts consumers should also take steps to avoid an automatic renewal of their supply contract. 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. Sign up now! 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. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). Illinois' moratorium on utility shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic ends Wednesday, but there is still help available for anyone who needs assistance paying bills. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. 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. Municipal Elections Running for Office CAPP will be administered by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). It allowed utilities to resume shutoffs on Nov. 9 but the ban was lifted for only three weeks before the annual winter shut-off went into effect on Dec. 1. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. 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. 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. 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. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? "You don't get medical pay period when you are a temp worker," she explained. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. 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. PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. 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. If you are homebound, you may request a home visit to apply for HEAP. , San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. 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. The move comes after S.C. Gov. In addition, 2020 collection reports for the individual Electric Distribution Companies (EDC) and Gas Distribution Companies (GDC) are available via NJBPU's Public Document Searchtool. HEAP is a seasonal program. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. 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. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. 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. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who cant pay through April 30, 2021. VIDEO: State regulators considering banning all electricity cutoffs for non-payment until next April. No, your landlord cannot shut off your utilities. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. 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. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. 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. 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. The electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. 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. 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. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved 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. Medical Information from healthcare professionals on symptoms, when to seek medical attention, and proper steps to take if exposed to COVID-19. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric, gas or water provider. "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. Customers should make payments toward their utility bills if they can. What is a local government agency's responsibility to be available to accept legal papers served by a processor during COVID-19, especially when they have closed their offices to the public? Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. Other CPUC Actions If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. Most of the assistance is provided through new, emergency programs, although some is provided through pre-existing programs. 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. 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. The Biden administration is pushing for more economic relief, but has not yet committed to stopping shut-offs. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. Sign up today for a digital subscription. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. Valcq pointed out that similar assistance programs do not exist for water customers. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. 505 Van Ness Avenue February 22 2023.