Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. An increase in your homes energy efficiency should result in lower utility bills over time. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. 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. The proclamations required these utilities to developCOVID-19 customer support programsthat would address payment plan options for residential customers who are in arrears due to COVID-19-related circumstances. Consumer advocates want to make sure all utilities are required to offer longer payment plans and forgive debt. Additionally, the period in which the lien may be imposed was amended this year by the legislature (see HB 1069, section 15). You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. For more information about the Winter Termination Program, call 800-624-0241. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Utilities in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Illinois utilities shut off moratorium ends Wednesday; how to get help NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. A lock icon ( 505 Van Ness Avenue 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. 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). You may be eligible for assistance now, even if you have not been eligible in the past. No, your landlord cannot shut off your utilities. If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. 2023 Cox Media Group. Also, if a customer enters into a payment plan with their provider, many . Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. 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. 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. 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. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). 229; Executive Order No. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? March 20, 2020: The CPUC has temporarily waived the hard copy filing requirements for our Advice Letter process. 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. of Cty. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. 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. "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. Those figures were roughly the same in April 2018. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves said the regulator is trying to be responsive to this really dynamic situation that were in, in recovering from this pandemic.. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and We are using lanterns to get ready for work.". 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. Governor Inslee issuedProclamation 20-23.16 on July 2, 2021, which extended the utility shutoff moratorium through September 30, 2021. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. We will By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs to homes and small businesses while the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. All rights reserved. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) 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;. California has been here before, Feds using enhanced surveillance to see whats behind the natural gas spike in California, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South. February 27 2023, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. 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. Auth. Board of Public Utilities | Newsroom & Public Notices Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. 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. "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. Also ask your electric or gas utility if you qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program or any other payment assistance program. If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. Fields, meanwhile, has applied for pandemic aid through the state. A second possibility is that you are receiving supply from a competitive supplier that markets and sells to individual customers. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. 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. Thursdays 5-0 vote extends the moratorium through the end of September for both residential and small-business customers. 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. In Fields' case, her supplier put her on a payment plan so she could just pay a few dollars a month. Pa. utility shut-off notice: Here's what you can do if you're at risk. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program. However, the question remains as to what actions local utilities can take to collect past-due amounts. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. 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. Utilities have argued an extension would make it more likely customers would fall further behind on their bills, which could result in utilities passing on those losses to all ratepayers. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. 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. HEAP is a seasonal program. Customers with higher income levels will be offered payment plans of at least one or two years. 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. State extends utility cutoff protection through April 2021 If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. At all other times, if you are experiencing financial hardshipandone of the following applies, your electric or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the Department of Public Utilities: In addition, payment plans are available to avoid shut off and manage utility bills. 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. 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 do not include personal or contact information. As Californians are sheltering at home, residential electric usage has increased 15 to 20 percent in recent weeks compared to the same period last year. COVID-19 - California Public Utilities Commission One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. 8, even as sewage contamination led to closures for 35 days last year. 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. March 1 2023, Changes for 2022 Annual Reporting for Cash Basis Entities NEW! If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs page. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. 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 AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. 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. The commissioners did not heed that call. If you do not qualify for a low-income program, contact your electric or gas utility to learn about deferred payment arrangements. Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Power are taking the step until further notice. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Please visit the CSD website for more information. 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. But she learned that if you fall behind on those payment plans, it can be lights out. VIDEO: State regulators considering banning all electricity cutoffs for non-payment until next April. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. 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. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. Share this webpage and the flyer below with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to spread the word. Help with Utilities | Texas Law Help Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. 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. The New Jersey moratorium on gas and electric companies shutting off service due to non-payment during the coronavirus pandemic is set to expire at the end of the year and the state has sent . If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. 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. 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. 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. during these challenging times. "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. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. The four-month lien limit on water services (enforceable only by water shut-off) is extended by: The period in which the lien may be imposed is the later of: (a) Three months from the expiration of the emergency declaration preventing collection or a lien; or (b) Three months of the ratepayer's failure to abide by the terms of an agreed payment plan, if the payment plan for past due charges would have allowed the ratepayer to repay the past due charges over a period of six months or more. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. 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. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. State Regulators Bar All Utilities From Shutting Off Water, Power And Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. 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. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The AGO encourages you to contact your electric or gas utility if the recent COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted your household income because you may be newly eligible for other assistance programs. 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. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. This is true even if you are behind on rent. 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. You can also go towww.heatinghelpma.orgto find more information about your local community action agency and eligibility. Use this button to show and access all levels. Other CPUC Actions 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). The move comes after S.C. Gov. If you are homebound, you may request a home visit to apply for HEAP. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. Keep updated on the latest news and information. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. Payment plans can help avoid service shut-offs. What if I can't pay my water, gas, electricity, phone, or Internet bill Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. 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. Is there a process for cities to write-off bad debt? 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.