It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. 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. Use this button to show and access all levels. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Sign up now! But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. 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. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. A federal program can help. 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. 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. According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. during these challenging times. 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. Can a power company turn off power? 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. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. 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. Here are prices in 10 communities, Charge by night, discharge by day: Electric school buses in El Cajon will send power to the grid, VMware, Broadcom rise; Marvell, Bumble fall, Initial public offerings scheduled to debut next week, Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, The implications of Walgreens decision on abortion pills, Nan Goldin is going to the Oscars, and she wants to win, World Bank: Quake caused damage worth $5.1 billion in Syria. Thanks for signing up. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. 505 Van Ness Avenue 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. States should heed the same recommendations as they set up their own programs to administer LIHWAP funds. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Heres how to apply, Suspicions of manipulation in the natural gas market? She cited lower unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates, and pointed to the latest federal stimulus among the reasons the moratorium could be lifted. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our customers. MRSC offers a wide range of services to local governments and our contract partners in Washington State. 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. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. Small business customers may also qualify for payment plans that include arrearage forgiveness. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program payments were down 40% compared to the previous year, according to PUC data. San Diego International Airport received the $20 million grant as part of the governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric, gas or water provider. If one of these suppliers is on your bill, it is possible that one of these companies switched your electricity supply without your permission. Valcq pointed out that similar assistance programs do not exist for water customers. For additional help, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has a variety of programs that can help with energy bills, water and sewer bills, rent costs, eviction prevention, and more. 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. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Some page levels are currently hidden. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who cant pay through April 30, 2021. 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. Under state law, water utilities can still collect past-due bills by putting those expenses onto the property tax roll. of Cty. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. 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. Governor Inslee issuedProclamation 20-23.16 on July 2, 2021, which extended the utility shutoff moratorium through September 30, 2021. Keep updated on the latest news and information. One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. 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). 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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Hous. Ellen Nowak opposed the decision to prevent all water shutoffs during the winter months. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. 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. 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. Steve has worked in municipal law and government for over 20 years as an Assistant City Attorney for Lynnwood, Seattle, Tacoma, and Auburn, and as the City Attorney for Port Townsend and Auburn. 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. We want all Massachusetts residents to be aware of thenew and expanded programs available to assist them in paying their home heating bills. 8, even as sewage contamination led to closures for 35 days last year. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. February 27 2023, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. The number of people affected is alarming, according to a letter sent to the commission from Gov. You skipped the table of contents section. This blog is co-authored by Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (National Consumer Law Center). Visithereor the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 to find your local community action agency where you can apply for LIHEAP. Sign up today for a digital subscription. 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). MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Lt. Gov. Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. Commissioners said utility companies may forgive a portion of the debt for low-income customers who stay current on their payments. 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. 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. The Governor's Executive Order establishes a six-month grace period in which no residential customer will face disconnection of their gas, electric, or water services before the end of the grace period on December 31, 2021. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. The number of customers who havent paid their bills increased 14% in the last year, but the amount they owe increased 76%, according to the Energy Association of Pennsylvania. 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. 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. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What. 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. 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 . 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. The Biden administration is pushing for more economic relief, but has not yet committed to stopping shut-offs. At least 30 days before assigningdebt, theutility must first attempt to notify the debtor of the existence of thedebtand that thedebtmay be assigned to a collection agency if not paid. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. Final Transition Plan Advice Letters available on. 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). 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. But the majority of these orders are . 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 . Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. "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.". When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. More than 1 million customers were eligible for termination when Wolf sent the letter a month ago. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC). We are using lanterns to get ready for work.". Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! As an alternative to the collection provisions in that section, RCW 36.94.150(3) allows the county to adopt the procedures in RCW 35.67.290 for collection. 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.. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. 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. 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. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. Anyone facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to . "I'm charging my cell phone in my truck when I can. 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). Customers who are interested in installing solar panels or enrolling with community solar programs should visit the AGs Office FAQ with consumer tips at mass.gov/ago/solar. The bill also extends the time for cities and counties to impose a sewage lien: A sewage lien may exceed six months' delinquent charges without the necessity of any writing or recording if collection of charges was impacted by the declaration of an emergency by the governor. For policy examples, see our Ask MRSC Archives question: Is there a process for cities to write-off bad debt?. Using Electronic Signatures During Emergencies, Woodward says Spokane economic recovery continues, but problems loom. Visitwww.mass211.orgor dial 211 to find your local agency. (Since interest is generally considered to be a penalty for non-payment it is probably included in "late fees.") There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services.
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