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). Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off, At all other times, if you are experiencing financial hardship. 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. Try now to get LIHEAP funds, Dollar Energy Fund help or emergency assistance, they said. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy All in all, 83 out of 578 water utilities submitted plans to shut off service for more than 9,500 customers. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 2023 www.goerie.com. She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. Aug. 13, 2020, at 12:14 p.m. Bills to Stop Paying During Coronavirus. 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. Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. 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. Digging Into Public Works In-person regional forums and training resources for public works staff and local contractors. Auth. 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. San Diego Gas & Electric residential customer bills. Global travelers on Tripadvisor platform rank Coronado No. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. 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. 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. The order protects consumers who may not be able to pay for their water service from shutoffs. Governor Inslee issuedProclamation 20-23.16 on July 2, 2021, which extended the utility shutoff moratorium through September 30, 2021. 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. 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. A lock icon ( Note that the proclamations do not prohibit imposing some kind of monetary penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of a payment plan. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Most Massachusetts investor-owned electric and gas utility companies offer deferred payment arrangements which allow the customer to set up a customized, manageable payment plan. 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 Municipal Elections Running for Office Whats your favorite San Diego County beach? In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric, gas or water provider. 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. New Jersey has again extended its moratorium on companies shutting off residents' utilities through June 30, as the state continues to cope with the coronavirus pandemic one year after the . But the majority of these orders are . Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. 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. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) 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. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. We want all Massachusetts residents to be aware of thenew and expanded programs available to assist them in paying their home heating bills. 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. Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. Please visit the CSD website for more information. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. In accordance with the approved plans, utilities are communicating with customers about imminent protection expiration, providing support to customers transitioning off of customer protections, and helping customers enroll in applicable assistance programs. You may be eligible for assistance now, even if you have not been eligible in the past. Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? 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. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. The update also adds a link to the Washington State Department of Healths Customer Assistance Program. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. The commissioners did not heed that call. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. A federal program can help. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to ban all utility disconnections until next April. California Public Utilities Commission You can check outcurrent and historic basic service rates here. Energy utilities will apply for CAPP assistance on behalf of customers who incurred a past due balance of 60 days or more on their energy bill during the COVID-19 pandemic relief period covering March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. 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. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. Can I get help paying my utilities? But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. HEAP is a seasonal program. 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. 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. 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. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. Boeings CEO is missing out on a $7 million bonus because the companys new large jet is behind schedule, Louisiana Gov. Earlier this year, the commission reported that statewide enrollment in CARE has increased 13.6 percent and FERA enrollment shot up 45 percent. However, you may want to stay with your community choice program this winter because many cities and towns currently have electricity rates that are lower than the rate available from the electric company. , Source: Executive Order No. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. That guidance was incorporated into Proclamation 20-23.6 to help utilities create their own programs. 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. Can a power company turn off power? 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. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist., 784 P.2d 1284 (Wash. Ct. App. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. Any person who is making good faith efforts should never have their services shut off, he 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. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. 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. For resources and updates about New Jerseys response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information Hub. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. John Bel Edwards is traveling to Asia for a weeklong series of meetings with business leaders and policymakers in the hopes of growing foreign investment, Stocks rallied on Wall Street, climbing to their biggest gain in six weeks, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Fields, meanwhile, has applied for pandemic aid through the state. 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. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). February 22 2023. 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. Those figures were roughly the same in April 2018. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. Ellen Nowak opposed the decision to prevent all water shutoffs during the winter months. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Steve Gross Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. 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. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. If you receive residential electric or gas service through a municipal utility, contact them directly to find out more about their shut-off policy and to hear about available payment assistance programs. Click here for more on competitive electric suppliers. OLYMPIA, WA - With a bipartisan 64-31 vote, the Washington State House passed a bill to ensure a utility operator cannot shut off power or water when the National Weather Service issues a heat-related warning or alert. Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . Tom Wolf, who opposes lifting the moratorium. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. concerned about the health and safety of themselves and their loved March 27, 2020: Joint Letters to IOUs re: Essential Wildfire and PSPS Mitigation Work, March 20, 2020: Business Continuity and COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Response Plans. The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. 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. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. Thank you for your website feedback! FERA is open to customers whose household incomes slightly exceed those eligible for CARE. Additionally, the period in which the lien may be imposed was amended this year by the legislature (see HB 1069, section 15). Also ask your electric or gas utility if you qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program or any other payment assistance program. Heres how to apply, Suspicions of manipulation in the natural gas market? Other CPUC Actions Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. Water Utilities Will Not Be Able To Disconnect Service After PSC Vote. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. 505 Van Ness Avenue update email soon. However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. 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. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC. To leave anyone, especially children who rely on utilities to attend virtual school, without electricity or heat is unconscionable when these companies have guaranteed income and millions in revenue.. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. Commissioners said utility companies may forgive a portion of the debt for low-income customers who stay current on their payments. Lt. Gov. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. For FAQs on the end of the moratorium and the six-month grace period, click here. 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.. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . All rights reserved. Gov. So even before there was a mandate to do so, we voluntarily suspended disconnections in early March, said Janet Kim, of PSE. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 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. 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. travels to Asia to strengthen business ties, How major US stock indexes fared Friday 3/3/2023, There is nothing warm and welcoming about it. San Diegos cruise ship terminal will get first makeover in 40 years, How to get your security deposit back in San Diego, Rapid reversal of price growth: San Diego home prices declining more quickly than other cities, San Diego rent increases are slowing. In Fields' case, her supplier put her on a payment plan so she could just pay a few dollars a month. 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). of Cty. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. This is true even if you are behind on rent. (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? Residential customers making payments under payment plans with their investor-owned electric or gas utility will remain protected from shut-off as long as they make payments under the payment schedule. (Since interest is generally considered to be a penalty for non-payment it is probably included in late fees.). 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. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. 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. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. 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. 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. But Dutrieuille and the commission approved a motion that will allow customers to stretch out payment plans and keep on their services. 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. To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. The move comes after S.C. Gov. She said utility workers shut off her electricity over the weekend for non-payment going back several months. Customers should make payments toward their utility bills if they can. ones. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, state and local governments have barred utility companies from shutting off services such as gas, electric and water. 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. * 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. But she learned that if you fall behind on those payment plans, it can be lights out. 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. 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. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. "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. When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. If you are a customer of a municipal utility, call your municipal utility immediately to ask about any assistance programs that may be available. Auth. Also, if a customer enters into a payment plan with their provider, many . 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. Thanks for signing up. 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. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. 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. 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. 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. 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. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut offif the utility service is needed to heat your homeand you receive service from an investor-owned utility, such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, or Berkshire Gas. Sign up now! But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. No, your landlord cannot shut off your 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). Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. 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. 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). Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who cant pay through April 30, 2021. 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.