Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications

Utility Consumer Protections & Bill Payment Assistance

Utility affordability programs and consumer protections help keep consumers connected to utility service during financial hardships. Discount rates, percentage of income payment programs (PIPPs), and arrearage management programs help keep bills affordable. Protections from utility shut-offs due to weather, illness, or other conditions save lives and protect medically vulnerable consumers. NCLC works to improve and expand utility consumer protections and bill payment assistance programs.

New Report Calls for Utility Protections Amid Extreme Heat

July 16, 2024

A new report from the National Consumer Law Center examines the impacts of extreme heat on utility consumers and recommends immediate actions.

Read More about: New Report Calls for Utility Protections Amid Extreme Heat
June 14, 2024
May 21, 2024

Recent

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Massachusetts Discount Rate Customers Falling Farther Behind on Utility Bills

March 24, 2025

As Winter Shutoff Protections Expire, More Bay Staters are Falling Behind on Energy Bills

March 24, 2025

Utility Help in Massachusetts

March 13, 2025

CA Response of Center for Accessible Technology and NCLC Regarding a Ruling on TURN’s Emergency Motion (Extreme Heat Protections)

October 22, 2024

Illinois Gas Utility Customers Now Eligible for New Monthly Service Discounts

October 4, 2024

MassLive: Time for Mass. to gear up for ‘summer preparedness’ (Viewpoint)

September 20, 2024

NBC News: As summer ends, concern about utility aid remains red-hot

September 13, 2024

Civil Rights Sign-on Comments on Disclosure and Transparency of AI-Generated Content in Political Ads

September 4, 2024

Comment on Form EIA-112: Residential Utility Disconnections Survey

August 19, 2024

Comments & Letters

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CA Response of Center for Accessible Technology and NCLC Regarding a Ruling on TURN’s Emergency Motion (Extreme Heat Protections)

October 22, 2024

Civil Rights Sign-on Comments on Disclosure and Transparency of AI-Generated Content in Political Ads

September 4, 2024

Comment on Form EIA-112: Residential Utility Disconnections Survey

August 19, 2024

Letter from 31 Public Interest Organizations to the FCC in Support of Opening a Rulemaking on Bulk Billing of Internet Service

July 31, 2024

Comments in DPU 24-15, Inquiry into Energy Burden and Energy Affordability

March 1, 2024

Maryland Energy Efficiency Advocates Comments to Maryland Public Service Commission Regarding a Low-Income Affordability Program

January 31, 2024

Comments to NASEO’s IRA Rebates RFI Regarding Essential Consumer Protections

May 19, 2023

Group Letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee RE: the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

April 5, 2023

Comments to the Public Service Commission of Maryland Regarding Retail Gas and Electric Supply Offers to Low Income Customers

October 19, 2022

Reports

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COVID-Driven Utility Arrearages: Implications for Policy in Massachusetts and the Nation

February 23, 2021

Protecting Seriously Ill Consumers from Utility Disconnections: What States Can Do to Save Lives Now

Electric Service Discount and Arrearage Management Program Design Template

April 14, 2020

Protecting Access to Essential Utility Service During Extreme Heat and Climate Change

July 16, 2024

Community Solar: Expanding Access and Safeguarding Low-Income Families

February 26, 2024

Overly Impacted & Rarely Heard: Incorporating Community Voices Into Massachusetts Energy Regulatory Process

May 4, 2023

Water Affordability Advocacy Toolkit

June 1, 2022

More Can & Must Be Done to Prevent Utility Consumers from Losing Service Due to Mounting COVID-Driven Arrearages in Massachusetts and Other States

November 15, 2021

Report: Lean and Green – The Massachusetts Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN)

November 10, 2014

Issue Briefs

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What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Energy Insecurity

January 30, 2020

Massachusetts Residential Utility Customers Still Owe Nearly $100M More in Arrears than at the Start of the Pandemic

February 15, 2022

Innovative State Actions on Residential Utility Bill Payment Protections During COVID-19 & Beyond

September 16, 2020

Massachusetts Discount Rate Customers Falling Farther Behind on Utility Bills

March 24, 2025

Rooftop Solar: Consumer Protection Recommendations

July 12, 2024

IRA Home Energy Rebates – State Program Design Recommendations: A Resource for Advocates

March 26, 2024

Immigrants’ Rights Resources in Massachusetts

November 30, 2023

Retail ‘Choice’: A Bad Deal for Consumers and the Planet

September 22, 2023

State Digital Justice Advocacy Toolkit

August 16, 2023

Testimony

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Testimony in Support of S.2106/H.3196, An Act Relative to Electric Ratepayer Protections

June 5, 2023

Testimony in Support of HB 260—Residential Electricity and Gas Supply Billing Information—Reports

February 5, 2022

Testimony of Jen Bosco: Hearing on Senate Bill 31 – Electricity and Gas – Energy Suppliers – Supply Offers

January 29, 2021

Testimony Regarding FY2021 Appropriation for the Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

May 22, 2020

Testimony of NCLC Before the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Regarding FY 2021 Appropriations for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

March 23, 2020

Testimony in Support of HB 982, Public Utilities—Low-Income and Middle-Income Housing—Energy Performance Targets

February 27, 2020

Testimony in Support of MD S.B. 681, Comprehensive Protections for Residential Consumers

February 25, 2020

Testimony in Support of MD S.B. 685, Electricity and Gas—Energy Suppliers—Assisted Customers

February 25, 2020

Testimony in Support of MD S.B. 686, Residential Electricity and Gas Supply Billing Information—Reports

February 11, 2020

Press Releases & News

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As Winter Shutoff Protections Expire, More Bay Staters are Falling Behind on Energy Bills

March 24, 2025

Illinois Gas Utility Customers Now Eligible for New Monthly Service Discounts

October 4, 2024

MassLive: Time for Mass. to gear up for ‘summer preparedness’ (Viewpoint)

September 20, 2024

NBC News: As summer ends, concern about utility aid remains red-hot

September 13, 2024

New Report Calls for Utility Protections Amid Extreme Heat

July 16, 2024

CNET: How Budget Billing Makes Your Utility Bills Predictable

June 14, 2024

U.S. Senate’s Rollback of Furnace Standards Would Add Costs and Pollution

May 21, 2024

NCLC Advocates Promote Consumer Protections for Energy Efficiency Financing in New Book

May 20, 2024

New Report Details How Community Solar Programs Can Reduce Energy Costs for Low-Income People and Address Climate Change

February 26, 2024

From the NCLC Digital Library

Access to Utility Service

NCLC’s treatise on delivery of water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications, with everything a practitioner needs to know on metering, payments, telecommunications, and assistance programs.

Read Chapter One

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