"I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. February 22 2023. She's argued for more targeted solutions to provide assistance to customers in need, highlighting that utilities are required to work out a down payment plan with customers during the pandemic. 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. Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. Individual competitive suppliers (in other words, suppliers that are not part of a community choice program) often charge higher rates than your utilitys rates. All told, some $1.33 billion in past-due bills have piled up statewide. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. For policy examples, see our Ask MRSC Archives question: Is there a process for cities to write-off bad debt?. He said they're trying to work with customers on payment plans, but the decision means some customers will have $4,000 in outstanding bills by next April. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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. The Proclamation 20-23 series (the proclamations) only applied to energy, telecommunications, or water services. A utility company generally can't turn off the heat, electricity or power during cold or hot weather. Thank you for your website feedback! Take steps to reduce your overall energy usage this winter, which should in turn help you lower your utility bill. 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. Inflation and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine are driving up fossil fuel prices and in turn energy rates for customers across the country this winter. 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. Earlier this month, the Legislature earmarked $1 billion in the upcoming 2022 state budget to help Californians pay overdue utility bills. Consumer advocates want to make sure all utilities are required to offer longer payment plans and forgive debt. And commissioners said utility companies told them many customers had not set up plans for repayment during the moratorium. Moratoriums on disconnects expiring across the US. 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 state regulator also approved a plan that requires utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric to automatically enroll customers who are lagging on monthly payments into a two-year debt relief program. On this webpage you will find information on what the CPUC 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. California Public Utilities Commission 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. 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. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. 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. Medical Information from healthcare professionals on symptoms, when to seek medical attention, and proper steps to take if exposed to COVID-19. On-Demand Webinars Watch pre-recorded versions of our recent webinars, at your own convenience. 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). update email soon. 2023 Cox Media Group. of King v. Ne. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC). So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. NEW! Jay Inslee previously ordered a moratorium on shut-offs, which he extended nine times. Source: Executive Order No. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. The financial effect of the pandemic has hit utility customers hard in California, a state that is home to one of the highest electricity rates in the country. 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). The AGO strongly urges any Massachusetts consumer who considers signing up with a competitive supplier to read the AGOs FAQs on electric supply options here. 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. Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans. Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. * Unsurprisingly, when California examined its statewide data, low-income communities of color had disproportionately high levels of household water debt. "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. Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. Share this webpage and the flyer below with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to spread the word. Puget Sound Energy reported giving $7.6 million in bill credits to nearly 14,000 customers. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. (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? When the state reopened in mid-June, Newsom quietly extended the moratorium on water shutoffs to Sept. 30. The decision means that utilities will not be able to shut off water, power or heat during the winter months. Boeings CEO is missing out on a $7 million bonus because the companys new large jet is behind schedule, Louisiana Gov. 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. Digging Into Public Works In-person regional forums and training resources for public works staff and local contractors. The policy should consider the variables for each type of receivable with specific criteria and internal controls in place to assure that the utilitys assets (receivables) are being safeguarded. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. HARRISBURGThe moratorium on utility shutoffs expires at the end of the month, leaving more than 1 million Pennsylvania households at risk of losing their electricity, gas, water and telephone service. Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Where available, the fact sheet provides links to federal program webpages and funding allocations to state, territorial, Tribal, and local grantees. 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. A recent report by Duke University researchers found that, if utility disconnections had been barred nationwide from March through November 2020, COVID-19 infections rates could have been reduced by 8.7% and deaths by 14.8%. June 17, 2020: The CPUC presented its COVID-19 response. April 23, 2020: CPUC held a workshop on Impacts of COVID-19 on Customer-Oriented Clean Energy Program. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 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. Income eligibility is evaluated based on your gross household income for the past 4 weeks. BGE Customers With Disconnected Service Can Get Service Restored During COVID-19 Pandemic. 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). No, your landlord cannot shut off your utilities. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . 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. MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. 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. 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. 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. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not announced program rules or released funds to the states. CAPP will be administered by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). Using Electronic Signatures During Emergencies, Woodward says Spokane economic recovery continues, but problems loom. 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. Consumer advocates and those who manage programs to assist customers, such as the Dollar Energy Fund, are warning those facing shutoff notices to not wait until the last minute to get help. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. The commission, known as the CPUC for short, extended the moratorium earlier this year but it was set to run out June 30. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. 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. If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. Utilities will continue to provide assistance programs. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. 2023 www.goerie.com. With clear criteria, the governing body can delegate the authority to write-off the debt to staff without further involvement from the governing body. 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. 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. The move comes after S.C. Gov. Water Utilities Will Not Be Able To Disconnect Service After PSC Vote. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. Water and other utility services already have been disconnected for at least hundreds of thousands families unable to pay these bills, with more at risk every day. 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. 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. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? 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. We know the effects of COVID are still very much front and center for many consumers, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said. Murphy was set to sign an executive order Monday that ends the 15-month moratorium on utility shut-offs on July 1, but creates a grace period through Dec. 31 for residents to sign up for a. Receive MRSC's latest articles and analysis through our Weekly Insights e-newsletter. NRDC and NCLC have submitted recommendations to HHS on how to implement LIHWAP equitably and efficiently. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. 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). According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. But if you are falling behind on utilities, get help as soon as possible so you are not shut off. To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. "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.". She is borrowing electricity from down the hall to keep her food from spoiling. Bessette said that puts utilities in a tough spot with landlords whose tenants can't or won't pay. 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. 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. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. In California and New York City alone, for example, residential water arrears total over $1.6 billion, with over 1.7 million households affected. Any person who is making good faith efforts should never have their services shut off, he said. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. Eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service. Earlier this year, the commission reported that statewide enrollment in CARE has increased 13.6 percent and FERA enrollment shot up 45 percent. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. For county-owned utilities, RCW 36.94.150 authorizes a lien for sewerage and water. 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. . Use this button to show and access all levels. 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. Remember that for city-owned utilities,RCW 35.67.210 and RCW 35.67.215 apply to sewage liens. If you do not qualify for a low-income program, contact your electric or gas utility to learn about deferred payment arrangements. 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. 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. 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.. 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. ones. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. Valcq pointed out that similar assistance programs do not exist for water customers. 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. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. Upcoming TrainingsAttend our live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings to learn about key local government issues! (Getty Images) Paying . during these challenging times. of King v. Ne. We know this has been an extremely difficult time for our customers. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Plus, if they wish to accelerate or make larger payments, they may do so. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Visithereor the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 to find your local community action agency where you can apply for LIHEAP. (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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. CAPP dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts. Please see below for contact numbers for each investor-owned electric and gas utility. Between November 15th and March 15th, residential customers are protected from utility shut off, At all other times, if you are experiencing financial hardship. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. Unlike AMP, utility customersdo not need to applyto receive assistance under the CAPP program. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. Anyone facing eviction should seek legal assistance, go to . The AGO issued a 2018reportand2019 update,and2021 updatethat found that Massachusetts customers typically lost money on competitive electric supply. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Thanks for signing up. 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. Water utilities were asked to submit any disconnection plans for review this month. CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. 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. SDG&E spokeswoman Sara Prince said the utility supports the CPUCs moves. Based on the plain language of the proclamations this is how we think they affect the utilities once the prohibitions expire. In these unsettling and unprecedented times, many people are Hous. The commissioners did not heed that call. Many residents are struggling to pay their bills, including their monthly utility bills, following the COVID-19 crisis and due to the currently high fossil fuel prices. April 1, 2021: Electric, gas, and water utilities submit final Emergency Utility Customer Protection Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC.