Appendix B of Protecting Seriously Ill Consumers from Utility Disconnections: What States Can Do to Save Lives Now
Read More about Appendix B: States That Allow Phone Call Followed by Written Certification
National and West Virginia advocacy organizations urge the Public Service Commission to protect West Virginia ratepayers and reject the relief requested by the Companies.
Across the United States, communities are grappling with rising water and sewer rates, which are increasingly unaffordable for many low-income households. When people cannot afford to pay, they face loss of access to essential water services, spiraling debt and economic hardship, loss of housing, loss of parental custody of children, and grave risks to both…
OVID-19 pandemic has had a severe financial impact on customers’ ability to pay for basic necessities such as utility service. Nearly one million Massachusetts residential customers (824,972) owed a total of $793.8 million in unpaid electric and gas bills at the end of June 2021, $219.1 million (38%) more than was owed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The vast majority of those arrears (83%/$660.8 million) were held by customers who were more than 90 days behind on their bills, and thus at imminent risk of termination. By October 1, the two largest utility companies in Massachusetts reported that over 7,000 residential customers had been terminated since the state’s moratorium on residential shutoffs was lifted on July 1. before the moratorium on residential utility shutoffs expired on July 1. As the future remains uncertain, and households continue to financially struggle, millions of customers across the country need assistance immediately to avoid losing access to critical utility service.
Utility services, including electricity, heat, water, telecommunications, and internet access are essential to health, safety, and daily life. The vital need for uninterrupted utility service was evident before the coronavirus pandemic, but the COVID-19 public health emergency reinforced both the essential nature of utility service and the problem of energy and water insecurity or energy…
Read More about Implementing a Roadmap to Utility Service as a Human Right
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 24, 2021 Download the report and appendices, including each state’s rules and recommendations for crafting a strong rule at: http://bit.ly/ill-consumer-utility Boston – In each of the 50 states and in D.C., utility commissions set the rules regarding when and how the companies they regulate can terminate vital electric and gas service…
