The CPUCs oversight consists of ensuring that the utilities are clear about the rules they must adhere to, monitoring the utilities preparation, and evaluating their implementation. 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. Don't fall behind on your bills or you may find yourself in the dark.__________________________. 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. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC We will use this information to improve this page. 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. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. The CPUC is taking action to ensure that this does not become an added hardship for people who have lost their jobs or are otherwise suffering economically due to COVID-19, including, but not limited to: Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. 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. 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. Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. 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 February 27 2023, Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management We are using lanterns to get ready for work.". 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. Global travelers on Tripadvisor platform rank Coronado No. "I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she told us after receiving an eviction notice. 505 Van Ness Avenue With clear criteria, the governing body can delegate the authority to write-off the debt to staff without further involvement from the governing body. Utilities resume the issuance of late payment notifications to customers and collection activities. "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. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. If you are a customer of a municipal utility, call your municipal utility immediately to ask about any assistance programs that may be available. Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. By comparison, about 12 percent of customers had past-due balances in April 2019, amounting to $184million. 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 electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. 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. 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. PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities, current and historic basic service rates here, Frequently Asked Questions about Water Utilities During COVID-19, Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. 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. March 1 2023, Changes for 2022 Annual Reporting for Cash Basis Entities 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? Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Power are taking the step until further notice. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program. Please limit your input to 500 characters. The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. The California legislature approved the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) in the 2021-2022 State Budget. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. 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. Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Preparation Plans update email soon. Earlier this month, Gov. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Thursdays 5-0 vote extends the moratorium through the end of September for both residential and small-business customers. Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year. 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). For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. 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). Wolf told commissioners he knew the moratorium couldnt continue indefinitely, but he urged them to continue the protections that are in place for low-income Pennsylvanians. We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our 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. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. of Cty. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. 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. 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. This partnership was previously. The decision essentially meant gas and electric utilities would be barred from disconnecting service through April 15, since the state's winter moratorium takes effect Nov. 1. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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. of Cty. The Proclamation 20-23 series (the proclamations) only applied to energy, telecommunications, or water services. The California Public Utilities Commission also extended the power shutoff moratorium to Sept. 30, days before it was set to expire on June 30. 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. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. 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. According to research at Indiana University that looked at a nationally representative sample of households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, 20% of Black households and 28% of Hispanic households reported being unable to pay an energy bill between June and August 2020, compared to just 12% of white households. 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. You may be able to pause mortgage payments, credit card bills, bank fees and more during the pandemic. 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. 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. Henry McMaster urged the companies in a . In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. The utility shutoff grace period ended on March 15, 2022 for all water, electric, and sewer customers. 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. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. One water system has already said that it will resume shutoffs the next day. According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. For more information, see Utilities and Landlord/Tenant Issues. Electric and gas utility contact information is provided below: You can considercontacting Mass Savefor an energy efficiency audit. 2023 www.goerie.com. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.).

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