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. "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. Do we have to have a location open during this time to accept papers? 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. Valcq pointed out that similar assistance programs do not exist for water customers. Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. 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. According toRCW 19.16.500(1)(b),utilities may also add a reasonable collections fee to the outstandingdebt. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. MRSC has consolidated additional information in the Utility Collection Deferrals, Shutoffs, and Payment Plans section of our COVID-19 Small Business and Tenant Assistance Programs webpage. It may also violate the prohibition againstdiscriminating among similarly situated ratepayers [Hous. Any person who is making good faith efforts should never have their services shut off, he said. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Seattle firefighters battle massive Lake City building fire for hours, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies after brain aneurysm at 61, Thieves lose ATM ripped out of Lakewood credit union. You may be eligible for assistance now, even if you have not been eligible in the past. 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). 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. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. 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. March 20, 2020: The CPUC has temporarily waived the hard copy filing requirements for our Advice Letter process. 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. Share this webpage and the flyer below with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to spread the word. 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. Details wont be finalized until the governor approves the budget and the commission will take the $1 billion payments into consideration in a later proceeding. 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) 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. At least one of those states (Wisconsin) is set to end its moratorium on April 15, placing over 20,000 households at risk of shutoff. Enrollment does not prevent customers from accessing other financial programs that can help them reduce utility debt. For more information, please visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. 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.. Many have indicated that if the moratoriums expire, they will cut customers off from power or heat, said Ruth Sawyer, of the Sierra Club. And commissioners said utility companies told them many customers had not set up plans for repayment during the moratorium. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. 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. 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. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. By comparison, about 12 percent of customers had past-due balances in April 2019, amounting to $184million. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. 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. Auth. For many of us, the accelerating rollout of COVID-19 vaccines provides hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. But this part-time warehouse worker says she was battling COVID, and was out of work for weeks. In these unsettling and unprecedented times, many people are 246; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml; https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. 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.. 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. BGE Customers With Disconnected Service Can Get Service Restored During COVID-19 Pandemic. But many utility companies have said without the threat of a shut-off notice, their bills would go unpaid. 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. You can alsofile a consumer complaintwith the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division or by calling our hotline at 617-727-8400. Even without the moratorium on shutoffs, most utility companies have been generous this year. Try now to get LIHEAP funds, Dollar Energy Fund help or emergency assistance, they said. If you are a small business customer that receives electric or gas service through a municipal utility, call your municipal utility to see what programs they offer to help avoid disconnection. Plus, more than half the amount owed comes from customers not enrolled in assistance programs that help defray utility bills. 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. However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. To learn about these payment programs, and whether they are offered by your utility, please contact your utility. By February 25, 2021, IOUs shall submit drafts of Transition Plan Advice Letters to CPUC staff (, Jan. 22, 2021: Comments on Draft Resolution M-4849. All in all, 83 out of 578 water utilities submitted plans to shut off service for more than 9,500 customers. 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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not announced program rules or released funds to the states. (Allied organizations have also submitted similar recommendations to HHS, including a letter organized by frontline advocates that NRDC also joined.). 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. 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. The heat dome of 2021 claimed the lives of 157 people in Washington State . 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. Shutoffs were allowed to resume Nov. 9 for some nonpaying customers, but existing commissionguidelines protected customers with income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Please do not include personal or contact 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 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. The Biden Administration and Congress have not acted on urgent calls to ban water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This chart from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)provides more detailed household income information. Information on testing, vaccines, and help finding appointments near you. Auth. For collection of delinquent amounts by water-sewer districts, the procedures in RCW 57.08.081control. Meanwhile, utility customers have amassed large, unpaid bills, as a majority of the state has been working from home and using more energy. You must re-apply each year and meet the qualifications to receive a HEAP benefit. But if you are falling behind on utilities, get help as soon as possible so you are not shut off. California Public Utilities Commission VIDEO: State regulators considering banning all electricity cutoffs for non-payment until next April. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. Some individual water utilities are continuing to suspend shutoffs, even after state bans expire, while some others never do shutoffs at all for non-payment. 1990)]. For more information on community choice electric plans, also known as municipal aggregations, visit this website maintained by the Department of Public Utilities here. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Editor's note: This blog has been updated to remove references tostate guidance related to the creation of COVID-19 customer support programs. Automatic renewals often lead to customers paying higher rates. These programs are voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. Small business customers may also qualify for payment plans that include arrearage forgiveness. 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. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist. Governor Inslee issuedProclamation 20-23.16 on July 2, 2021, which extended the utility shutoff moratorium through September 30, 2021. *Note:This combined total for New York City and California is likely a conservative estimate. 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). This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Want to know more about the team behind MRSC or contact a specific staff member? The order protects consumers who may not be able to pay for their water service from shutoffs. But tens of millions of people are continuing to accumulate tens of billions of dollars of overdue utility bills. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Also ask your electric or gas utility if you qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program or any other payment assistance program. We know the effects of COVID are still very much front and center for many consumers, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said. If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. There is no similar prohibition for sewer or storm water services. Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capital Bureau. Consider solar energy to reduce electricity usage. Is there a process for cities to write-off bad debt? Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist., 784 P.2d 1284 (Wash. Ct. App. Sign up today for a digital subscription. 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 |. coronavirus State regulators on Tuesday extended protections against utility cutoffs for people who can't pay through April 30, 2021. Category: COVID-19 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). Utilities said that few customers responded to pleas to enroll in payment plans or to apply for assistance, and few customers were shut off. 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. If you are homebound, you may request a home visit to apply for HEAP. Find information on what the CPUC and utilities under its jurisdiction are doing to support communities during these challenging times. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. With expanded income eligibility for some programs, more New Jerseyans are now eligible for utility assistance. during these challenging times. Aug. 13, 2020, at 12:14 p.m. Bills to Stop Paying During Coronavirus. A federal program can help. 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. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? Keep updated on the latest news and information. If you need help paying your utility bills or your arrears, visit the Board of Public Utilities' Assistance Programs 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. The AMP provides customers with the opportunity to have all or a portion of an arrearage (or outstanding unpaid amounts due) forgiven in exchange for payments of an amount and on a schedule designed individually for each participant. He also has been a legal policy advisor for the Pierce County Council and has worked in contract administration. "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. The extension of the moratorium on shutoffs has been met with frustration by some, including Jason Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities. The fact sheet also describes five other relevant programs: You can download the fact sheethereor view it below. You can also go towww.heatinghelpma.orgto find more information about your local community action agency and eligibility. Plus, if they wish to accelerate or make larger payments, they may do so. Texas regulators vote to ban residential utility shut-offs during pandemic while buoying companies The Texas Public Utility Commission approved an order Thursday that would ban. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. For additional FAQs about NJBPU's processes during the COVID-19 statewide response, click here. The White House is proposing to spend $5 billion to cover home energy and water. 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. . Since it has not been referenced in any subsequent proclamations, the guidance may not have any legal effect. 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. 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. Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. CARE is available to customers whose total household income is at or below specific income limits, such as $52,4000 for a family of four. She cited lower unemployment and COVID-19 infection rates, and pointed to the latest federal stimulus among the reasons the moratorium could be lifted. according to data provided to the commission, Wisconsin utility regulators discontinue remaining COVID-19 protections for customers, Two of Wisconsin's largest utilities reach deal with groups as they seek to raise rates next year, Utility regulators want state's energy efficiency program to play a larger role in cutting emissions, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Wisconsin, Latest COVID-19 data shows hospitalization, death rates low, infection rates up among vaccinated, Lawyer who oversaw Trump elector scheme in Wisconsin reappointed to judicial advisory panel, Court orders Green Bay to stop using audio devices while lawsuit plays out, UW System President Jay Rothman to seek in-state tuition increase, Capital budget would offload 4 state office buildings, From 'Magic the Gathering' to computer coding manuals, these are the books banned in Wisconsin prisons, Landowners sue Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders to reopen roads blocked for a month, Wisconsin natives aged gouda is 'best cheese' in America, contest says, As budget negotiations begin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos downplays Wisconsin's surplus, Federal lawsuit challenging Eau Claire schools transgender policy dismissed, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. San Francisco, CA 94102, Utility Business Continuity Plans and PSPS Preparation, CPUC Mobilizes Community Based Organizations for Pilot Program To Help Consumers With Utility Debt, CPUC Executive Director Letter Concerning Extension of Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service Through February 15, 2022, CPUC Acts To Ensure Essential Utility Services for Consumers at Risk of Disconnections, CPUC Actions to Protect Customers During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Utility Disconnection Moratoria and Arrearage Management - Presentation at CPUC Voting Meeting, CPUC Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service through September 30, 2021, CPUC Provides Relief for Customers Who Have Energy Bill Debt, https://liob.cpuc.ca.gov/m-4849-utility-transition-plans/, Executive Director Letter to IOUs on Direction to Conduct Customer Data Validation for Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Executive Director Letter Extending Moratorium on Disconnection for Non-Payment and Fees for Late Payment for Voice Service (Resolution M-4848) Through July 15, 2021, CPUC Extends Emergency Utility Customer Protections and Takes Further Action To Address Energy Arrearages During COVID-19, California Cable & Telecommunications Association, CPUC Implements Consumer Protections to Assist Residential and Small Business Customers, Workshop on COVID-19 Impacts on Customers in the Energy Sector, President Batjer Letter to AT&T regarding Legacy DSL Services Retirement, CPUC Letter to ISPs re: Affordable Broadband Plan Subscription Information, Remarks on COVID-19 Actions from Energy Division Deputy Executive Director, CPUC Letter to Program Administrators on Guidance on Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings Assistance Program Suspensions, CPUC Issues Proposal for Additional Customer Protections Due to Non-Payment, CPUC Letter to ISPs on Affordable Broadband Plans to Support Customers Affected by the COVID-19 State of Emergency. He has indicated that this will be the final extension. 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. An increase in your homes energy efficiency should result in lower utility bills over time. The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling COVID-19 are running out of options. 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). Applications for LIHEAP for the 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now and throughout the winter heating season. Call your electric or gas utility immediately to enroll. (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? NEW! In addition, 2020 collection reports for the individual Electric Distribution Companies (EDC) and Gas Distribution Companies (GDC) are available via NJBPU's Public Document Searchtool. In this post, well focus on what effect (if any) the proclamations have on your existing collections process. 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. The Utilities and Transportation Commission also ordered investor-owned utilities to continue waiving new customer deposits and late fees through Oct. 27, 2021. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. In addition to Texas Utility Help, the following programs exist to help people pay utilities Also: Help for Texans (TDHCA) CPUC response letter that delays an already scheduled natural gas rate increase for Southern California Gas Company and SDG&E small business customers for 120 days to help reduce natural gas bills during the crisis. Nowak has previously urged the commission to work with the Evers administration to provide assistance to water customers in need through CARES Act funding. February 22 2023. In the case of small businesses in disadvantaged communities, the payment cannot exceed 5 percent of the customers average monthly bill. But the majority of these orders are . 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.