DC Public Service Commission Follow her on Twitter: @FirstArai. A number of utilities, including Ameren, Con Edison, and Pacific Gas and Electric, also have ramped up assistance programs, which may offer deferred payment plans to those affected by COVID-19 . Seattle suspended water and electric shutoffs. Making matters worse, the war in Ukraine has reduced the global supply of oil, driving the price of gasoline near all-time highs and adding volatility to the natural gas market. BILL NUMBER: S1453A SPONSOR: PARKER TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public service law, in relation to extending a mora- torium on utility termination of services after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or expires; and to amend chapter 108 of the laws of 2020 amending the public service law, relating to issuing a moratorium on utility termination of services during periods of . To that end, in an effort to help minimize the exposure . American Water, which operates in 16 states and has 650,000 customers in New Jersey and 350,000 in New York, has halted any shutoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic and will also restore service. Utility debt is actually ubiquitous and a slice of a stunning $15 trillion in U.S. household debt. Representatives can help you get on plan to pay in installments or defer payment to avoid service disruptions. (We are tracking statewide water shutoff moratoria, including some that have already expired, here.). In the winter, demand is high. Substantial Rehabilitations Could Help Explain Why. You can also apply for the state-run Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, which can provide up to $751 this year toward heating assistance for those who receive food stamps, temporary assistance or Social Security. 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 from ComEd, North Shore Gas . Regional Staff Attorney - Litigation (choice of office) Kathy Hochul and State Assembly members to pass emergency legislation ordering the Public Service Commission to cancel all utility debt and to cover the cost using corporate utility shareholder returns. Notably, and in contrast with many state programs, eligible residents do not need to apply the assistance is automatically credited to accounts. Rochester Public Utilities He called the state Department of Public Service to complain, about the lack of a quarterly spring bill. For an optimal experience visit our site on . But skeptical elected officials demanded an investigation into Con Edisons billing practices, leading the company to pledge to change billing practices to make sudden jumps in charges less likely. Consistent with customer preferences prioritizing the health and safety of the public and its workforce, Con Edison will incrementally resume the work that was put on pause in response to the rapid spread of the pandemic. update email soon. On top of that, the price of the oil, supplied by a different company, has increased with each delivery. Customers will receive advance notification of planned work and have the option of rescheduling it if they prefer. In short, public ownership transforms access to energy from a for-profit service to a basic human right, Navarro writes. In 2019, the state passed the most ambitious state-level climate legislation in the country, requiring its electricity sector to be emissions free by 2040. Not having a safe place to be because you dont have electricity, gas or water doesnt do anything to help address the coronavirus.. PSEG Long Island, like many companies, has robust business continuity plans and emergency procedures that predate the COVID-19 outbreak. State Disclosures, Senior Attorney, Safe Water Initiative, People & Communities Program. But utility payments are the tipping point. In Nebraska, which is currently the only state in the U.S. with 100 percent publicly owned energy infrastructure, residents pay at least 15 percent below the national average for the energy they use. And with gas increasingly exported to foreign countries, the domestic supply gets squeezed. Nancy Luna | Mar 20, 2020. China Photos/Getty Images. The companys policy will be in place at least through the end of April, as will Atlantic City Electrics. The problem isnt new. Public Power Council Texas is barring electricity companies from shutting off service for unpaid bills after storms caused prices to surge. Ultimately, customers unable to pay will need additional financial assistance, including some level of arrearage forgiveness, to keep the water on. The company originally announced it would suspend disconnects in mid-March for at least 30 days to assist . It's an effort to ease financial impacts to . But as crucial as they are to supporting residents facing the immediate existential threat of losing heat during the coldest months, one-time financial support and legal counseling provide thin cover in the medium to long term. It's also easy to share a link to an article you've liked or an industry resource that you think would be helpful. The company is offering flexible payment plans that will be protected from service disconnection . If youre getting other government benefits like Medicaid, you also can apply for the discount. If you are having trouble paying your electric, sewer, or water bills, you may be eligible to avoid disconnection through the Winter Termination Program. If you are able, you should pay your utility bills as they come due. The last house Jackson rented was old and leaky. Thank you @NewYorkHunger for spreading this essential information. Paralegal - Litigation The moratorium will be lifted on June 18, two days before a forecasted hotter-than-normal summer arrives. Washington, District of Columbia, Senior Customer Programs Transportation Electrification Manager Millions of New Yorkers are already unemployed due to economic fallout of COVID-19 and will need significant time to regain their financial footingand the ability to pay their billsas the state begins its economic recovery. Were in a utility debt crisis, Johnson said. You can request to start, stop or reconnect electric service. The federal government offers the Home Energy Assistance Program, but the application process is cumbersome and doesnt stretch far enough. Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. . Our mission at EnergyCentral is to help global power industry professionals work better. Her work has appeared inUndark,Sierra Magazine,Yes! This note is for information purposes only.". Gavin Newsom broad powers to slow the spread of the virus, is set to expire on Feb. 28. The outage will affect your alarm systems and may affect private phone systems. Ms. Huba, who moved to Harlem from Texas last summer, was stunned when Con Edison sent her a monthly bill for $891 in January, double what she had paid just two months before. If someone claims to be from Con Edison, call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) and check the employee's name and ID. Other states have done so by some combination of executive order or utility commission order, with legislation playing a supporting role on water in at least one instance. LCRA With growing concerns about the economic impacts of a virtual shutdown of businesses and large events to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus, advocates are increasingly pushing financial relief for families. The end of government protections has put utility companies in an unpopular position. Con Edison crews will only enter your home or business for emergencies, safety reasons and upon your request for critical issues, including turning on service. Avangrid, which owns New York State Electric & Gas and Rochester Gas & Electric, serving broad swathes of upstate New York, will suspend shut-offs due to unpaid bills for 30 days, spokesperson Michael Jamison said. Pennsylvania utilities have cut off service to 116,000 customers for nonpayment since the state lifted a moratorium on shutoffs on April 1 after a staggering number of unpaid bills piled up during the coronavirus pandemic. You, the customer, must contact the utility company directly and ask for shutoff protection. When Service Can Be Shut Off. Major cities, including Atlanta and Detroit, have suspended shut-offs to ensure residents have water to wash their hands. As Johnson points out, low-income communities and communities of color are particularly susceptible to debt and shutoffs for reasons of systemic injustice. Youre not alone. 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. A utility shut-off moratorium ended on December 21st, meaning that New Yorkers could face the cut-off of heat during the winter months ahead. For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). If someone claims to be from Con Edison, call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) and check the employees name and ID. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/19/nyregion/ny-utility-bill-moratorium.html. When customers of Consolidated Edison in New York City and its northern suburbs complained about sharp increases in their bills this winter, the company said the main cause was a spike in the price of natural gas driven by winter demand. Or, as in Ms. Riveras case, longer than that. All together, they owe over $1.7 billion, according to THE CITYs analysis of data provided to the state by 10 utility companies. We need to get past this, hopefully, to see what were facing and then deal with other things.. Con Edison does not accept these payment methods. But that is still significantly higher than before the pandemic, when debt totaled about $12 billion. For companies like Con Edison, pulling the plug on customers who fall behind in paying their bills is usually a last resort, which it typically avoids during the coldest months. Residential and small business customers will have an additional 30-day grace period, during which time ComEd will not disconnect service for nonpayment to help customers get back on their feet. New York City does not shut off service for nonpayment, but does issue liens against peoples property. They are issuing shut-off warnings while inflation is pushing up the price of many goods, and monthly charges for heat and electricity have soared in recent months. PSEGs Elizabeth Flagler said the termination message is "one of the requirements for the customers to be eligible for HEAP," the Home Energy Assistance Program. On March 15, state officials warned customers of potential shut-offs. New York's moratorium on shutting off gas, electricity and water is set to expire 180 days after the Covid-19 state of emergency was lifted, June 24, putting the moratorium on pace to end Dec. 21. Ms. Inghilleri said she had never fallen so far behind on any bills that she had to seek assistance. Residents or business owners in the Rockaways can get information from PSEG Long Island. Where Is the Money Going? Water service has also drawn attention. power are not interrupted during the Covid-19 Pandemic. [45] [46] Consolidated Edison said they would not shut off service due to non-payment related to the health crisis and would waive any new late-payment charges for customers. Ebony Jackson is a community leader and small business owner in Binghamton, New York. Visit https://t.co/QFnsFxkFZB! Managing Attorney Customers can manage their accounts online and learn more about payment plans and options. The Number of Rent-Stabilized Apartments Registered in Ridgewood Plummeted. There are a significant number of residents who are in danger of having their services cut off after today, and that is why were continuing to ask utility companies to work with people as they apply for assistance but they must apply for help, said Lt. Gov. On account of historically racist housing policies, Black families are more likely to live in energy-inefficient housing stock, according to forthcoming research to be published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. The company also said it would try to smooth out the effects on customers of its efforts to hedge against volatility in the price of natural gas. If you get a termination notice, contact the company that provides your utility service. Privately-owned building. And its a particularly bad time for bills to go up for lots of people. Regional Staff Attorney - Litigation https://t.co/mOoOyPQeSb. As of May 7, 447,990 Alabamians had filed . As of December 2021, 32 of those states have let those protections expire.