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. CAPP dedicates $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address Californian's energy debts. 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. March 17, 2020: CPUC Ensures Essential Utility Services for Consumers to Assist in COVID-19 Mitigation. Last month, Ayanna McClure learned how quickly landlords were filing eviction notices when the moratoriums expired. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. 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 |. We want all Massachusetts residents to be aware of thenew and expanded programs available to assist them in paying their home heating bills. Utilities also offer another way to stay on top of your bills called budget billing. 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. We will use this information to improve this page. We will be monitoring very closely the extent to which state and federal funding efforts address the debt that consumers face, Rechtschaffen said. You may want to consider adopting a policy that will authorize you to write-off uncollectible debt. Under these programs, your city or town negotiates a supply rate with a competitive supplier for its residents. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Why is my BGE bill so high 2021? All in all, 83 out of 578 water utilities submitted plans to shut off service for more than 9,500 customers. 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. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. CAPP will be administered by the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium. In the past MRSC has written that a utility is required to collect a past-due amount and that failing to do so may violate Article VIII section 7of the state constitution, which prohibits a government agency from gifting public funds. But the majority of these orders are . The utility reported to the commission that 495 out of its roughly 3,000 customers would be eligible for disconnection. If your bill lists a competitive supplier that you do not recognize, there are two possibilities. So, late fees for commercial customers were also prohibited during the emergency. 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? If you have been switched without your permission, you should file a complaint with the Department of Public Utilities. 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. If you need assistance, please Contact the Attorney General's Office at (617) 727-2200. The Proclamation 20-23 series (the proclamations) only applied to energy, telecommunications, or water services. https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20211222a.shtml, https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/reports/covid19/Moratorium_Ending_FAQs_061421.pdf. 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. South Carolina utilities will stop cutting service to customers with unpaid bills during the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, the California data do not include arrears for customers of wastewater-only utilities. You must re-apply each year and meet the qualifications to receive a HEAP benefit. Thank you for your website feedback! "It's just very difficult that the PSC wouldn't allow us to use our same tools," said Bessette. 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. Other CPUC Actions NJBPUtook several other actions to issue guidance to the utility companies during the State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency, including: Water and Sewer Arrearages Summary as of September , 2022 (PDF). "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. "I didn't have the $300 they needed," she said. 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. And the amount of unpaid bills had increased 67% since 2019 to $1 billion in February. By comparison, about 12 percent of customers had past-due balances in April 2019, amounting to $184million. Any utilities who may disconnect service once the winter moratorium ends would also have to submit those plans to regulators by Feb. 15. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, A map from the National Association of Utility Regulators (NARUC). Please visit theCSD websitefor more information. Lt. Gov. On June 14, Governor Murphy announced that the moratorium on utility service shutoffs will end as of July 1, 2021. Are we in violation of a law if we do not have a location that is open to the public to serve? Steve Gross joined MRSC as a Legal Consultant in January 2020. Those balances amounted to $235.7 million. To be eligible for your electric or gas utilitys low-income discount rate program or the arrearage management program (AMP), you must either qualify for LIHEAP funding, or receive food, cash, or medical benefits from the state. Auth. HEAP is a seasonal program. But the vaccines are still in a race against time, with COVID-19 again resurging in many states. COVID-19
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. 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Global travelers on Tripadvisor platform rank Coronado No. Some utilities stated they have been helping customers. 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. If you are served by a municipal utility, it may or may not be shutting off customers for unpaid bills. 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. 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. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). 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. 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). Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. Lake Washington Sewer & Water Dist., 784 P.2d 1284 (Wash. Ct. App. For businesses, the plan ensures that the monthly payment does not exceed 10 percent of the customers average monthly bill. In Fields' case, her supplier put her on a payment plan so she could just pay a few dollars a month. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people plus others still battling. 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. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. Hous. Utilities in Wisconsin will once again be able to shut off services for customers who fail to pay their bills. Additionally, the period in which the lien may be imposed was amended this year by the legislature (see HB 1069, section 15). Moratoriums on electric shutoffs now expiring, Despite the continuing pandemic, Duke and other utilities are now disconnecting customers falling behind, as state moratoriums expire. PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said its time to return to the regular collections process.. 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. "I just want some time to get my money," she said. 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. 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. 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. 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. Many customers financial situations have changed during the pandemic. 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. 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. If you are homebound, you may request a home visit to apply for HEAP. February 22 2023. 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. The fact sheet describes what is currently known of the program and will be updated as HHS releases more information. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The electric utilities are responsible for operating their systems, including the decision to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort. Consumer advocates want to make sure all utilities are required to offer longer payment plans and forgive debt. However, the question remains as to what actions local utilities can take to collect past-due amounts. But, thewinter moratorium doesnot apply to water utilities. The order also applies to small-business customers who have bills at least 60 days past due. 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. The grace period for residential cable and internet for customers with school-aged children ended on December 31, 2021. Ellen Nowak opposed the decision to prevent all water shutoffs during the winter months. 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. However, if a customer misses more than two payments in their COVID-19 relief plan, they can be kicked out of the plan. In these unsettling and unprecedented times, many people are CPUC Industry Divisions will accept the submittal of Advice Letters and related documents by electronic mail. 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. She also noted that the 9,500 customers represented the number of meters that would be shut off, and that more people whoresided in any of those households were also at risk of losing service. 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.