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. But that is still significantly higher than before the pandemic, when debt totaled about $12 billion. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy If your service provider is threatening you with a utility shutoff and you have already called them to request shutoff protection, you should call our office. You will have to self-certify with the utility provider that you had a change in financial circumstances or loss of income due to COVID-19. Coronavirus - PSEG Long Island If you get a termination notice, contact the company that provides your utility service. ", In addition, the state agency said, Home Energy Fair Practices Act rules "require that a disconnection/termination notice must be printed in a size type capable of attracting immediate attention. This note is for information purposes only.". Customers can also find great energy savings tips on the Con Edison. US Is Maintaining Tensions With North Korea to Draw in Allies Against China, DOJ Says Trump Can Be Sued for January 6 Speech, Woman Arrested in South Carolina for Allegedly Taking Abortion Pills in 2021, Student Loan Forgiveness Program Appears Headed for Defeat in the Supreme Court, Trump Campaign Asked Proud Boys to Attend Post-Election Rallies in Plain Clothes, Summer Heat Will Worsen the Pandemic for Poor Communities, Climate Crisis Stokes Flames in California, Putting Disabled People at Risk, Bernie Sanders Vows Bill to Cap Price of Insulin at $20 Per Vial, Ocasio-Cortez Blasts GOP Energy Bill as Fossil Fuel Industry Wishlist. (Courtesy Dana Tanner) By Alene Tchekmedyian Staff Writer. But producing high-quality, independent work is not cost-free , If you found the piece above useful, informative, or inspiring, please consider supporting, Leanna First-Arai is a freelancejournalistwho coversenvironmental and climate (in)justice. NJ utilities: Start paying up or lose gas, electricity after March 15 Residents are worried about de facto deregulation in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood thanks to limited enforcement of the largely voluntary systems landlords use to register rent-stabilized apartments. Millions of U.S. residents behind on bills are at risk of having their electricity, heat and ability to stir up a hot meal cut off on December 22 by private utility companies, just a day after the solstice heralds the colder states' descent into true winter's chill. 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. As a single mother, covering expenses is a constant challenge. Amber Johnson is the organizing and training director at the New York Energy Democracy Alliance (NYEDA). Private electricity companies will be required to send a 10-day "re-notification . Georgia Power's suspension of disconnects to continue during COVID-19 Top NYPD official tells businesses to demand patrons remove masks in order to enter, Gibsons State of the Borough address aims high amid systemic challenges, Flushing business owners meet with 109th Precinct officers to discuss crime prevention strategies following jewelry, Mayor names Brooklyn Navy Yard as site for $20 million, Calls from Moscow follows four queer Cuban migrants holed up. Unfortunately, scams targeting utility customers increase during times of uncertainty; we urge you to call us first at 1-800-655-4555 before taking any action, or if you are suspicious about any COVID-19-related emails or calls you receive from people claiming to be with SCE.We will never call you or email you to demand payment and threaten to disconnect your service if payment isn't . Agency spokesman James Denn said PSEG and other utilities "may not terminate service for nonpayment at this time and for the duration of the state of emergency in compliance with the states utility moratorium law. Marin Clean Energy (MCE) HEAP is a seasonal program. Plus, public power would likely lower bills. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Im constantly trying to fight and to dig out of a hole that Im in.. Unlike electric and gas utilities, there are no statewide programs for low-income water assistance, and few local ones. Visit https://t.co/QFnsFxkFZB https://t.co/RNEMUJjAvI, Please spread the word! New York State has taken steps to ensure that any customers affected by COVID-19 will not lose certain utilities due to financial hardship through December 22, 2021. Just because you are behind in payments does not mean you are automatically protected -- you must contact the utility company directly. You can request to start, stop or reconnect electric service. But on Wednesday, New Jerseys largest power distributor, PSE&G, started sending representatives to shut off electricity of customers who had not responded to multiple warnings and whose bills were more than 90 days past due, a company spokeswoman said. On Thursday, Con Edison offered the suspension . It Could Get Ugly. requiring the utility to inform all customers of their right to have continued utility service during the COVID-19 state of emergency and of the opportunity to restructure their payments. Though lithium-ion batteries for use in e-bikes have caused a rise in fires in the city, the batteries used in energy storage systems are fundamentally different and the city has strict regulations to mitigate fire risk. As a result, major energy utility providers including NYSEG, RG&E, and National Grid have . If youve already tried to resolve your bill with your utility company Con Ed you can file a complaint with the state Department of Public Service, which oversees utility services. New York State outlawed the practice of shutting off service for nonpayment during the COVID-19 pandemic, but dont be surprised if your PSEG bill still includes a termination notice if you dont pay. Everyone, regardless as to what industry, has to have a heightened responsibility thats encompassed in compassion and take everything into consideration, New Jersey state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) told POLITICO. The unpaid bills have piled up in New Jersey, too. And with the transition comes a push to increase efficiency in sectors like buildings using less energy means we will pay for less. With utility disconnections set to resume in Washington, advocates push A 2021 Rocky Mountain Institute report found that gas utilities pass the cost of building new pipelines and mains onto customers, to the tune of hundreds of millions annually, which locks in the use of fossil gas for decades to come. Back in New York, both the utility debt crisis and delay in rapid transition to renewables are a result of policies that favor private ownership, said Patrick Robbins, a coordinator with NYEDA. Her legal work is excellent and she relentlessly advocates for her clients. Bill assistance and a moratorium on utility shutoffs will be crucial during a potentially record hot summer. Power lines hang from a pole in Brooklyn. Thank you @NewYorkHunger for spreading this essential information. Electricity costs did decrease in February, the bureau reported, and one factor may have been Con Edisons decision to reduce what it charges for supplying power, by 8.8 cents per kilowatt-hour, following the outcry over high bills. Check this page for information about determining your eligibility, or email Con Ed about the program at LowIncomeRate@coned.com. 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. As New Yorkers are staying at home to protect themselves and their families, the need for water, gas, electric, and telecommunications services are even more critical than ever. LCRA The State Department of Public Service has received fewer than 10 complaints about the termination notices on PSEG bills, the agency confirmed. The federal government offers the Home Energy Assistance Program, but the application process is cumbersome and doesnt stretch far enough. 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. Utility companies in just 10 states have reported more than 750,000 residential electricity shutoffs since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic--with one Florida firm accounting for a third of the power cuts--according to a report published Tuesday by the Center for Biological Diversity. If your utilities have been disconnected in violation of the moratorium, please call our office. Our reporting shows that, across the state, almost 1.3 million residential gas and electric customers are 60 or more days behind on their bills. She and her fianc kept three space heaters going to supplement the heat supplied by their oil-burning furnace. Washington, District of Columbia, Sr. Environmental Economist Governor Issues Water Shutoff Order and Takes Steps to Maintain But for residential utility customers and families, this is an impossible task if their water is shut off for non-payment of a water bill. Mieko Inghilleri, a public-school teacher in New Jersey, reached out to a local advocacy group after falling behind on her utililty bill. At that time, Con Ed sent out 128,299 termination notices. Available data from other states and projections for New York State specifically, suggest that millions of New Yorkers are likely already behind on their utility bills, accumulating substantial arrears that would subject them to shutoff at their utilitys discretion without guaranteed protections from the state. Sheila Oliver. The looming shutoffs come as public health officials warn the newest COVID-19 variant is spreading across the U.S. Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What? The increase in energy costs in the region paralleled the rate of inflation for energy nationwide, the bureaus data show. Even after the state of emergency is lifted or expires, utilities are "prohibited from disconnecting residential customers for nonpayment if the customer says they have been financially harmed by COVID," the PSC spokesman said. Eversource said customers can make payment arrangements, which include a COVID-19 Payment Program. 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. An unused clause on the books could change that. Customers who contact SCE and self-identify as being impacted financially by the COVID-19 emergency. NY State Senate Bill S1453B But each states moratorium is set to lapse before the end of the year, just when ratepayers are more behind in payments than ever before: As of November 2021, ratepayers in the Empire State alone owed a whopping $2 billion to energy giants such as National Grid and Con Edison. That means fuel costs more. The latest LI business news in your inbox Monday through Friday. Kathleen Kerr, the alliances director for utility assistance, said she was waiting for the bombardment of calls from people who had gotten shut-off notices. The Number of Rent-Stabilized Apartments Registered in Ridgewood Plummeted. DC Public Service Commission In California, for instance, a statewide arrearage management plan sets aside $1 billion in funding to help with utility debt. update email soon. If you have an experience or insight to share or have learned something from a conference or seminar, your peers and colleagues on Energy Central want to hear about it. Utilities Face Pressure To Stop Shutting Off Services Amid Coronavirus For specific legal advice about a problem you are having, get the advice of a lawyer. If youre getting other government benefits like Medicaid, you also can apply for the discount. Winter Forecast. CON EDISON BEGINS WORK - PUT ON HOLD DUE TO COVID-19 - Energy Central Some Texans described facing $5,000 utility bills after winter storms caused prices to surge. Lots of Con Ed customers have reported their bills doubling or tripling from one billing period to the next even if they didnt use more power. Utility Bills Piled Up During the Pandemic. Will Shut-offs Follow? Residents of New York and New Jersey owe the staggering sum of more than $2.4 billion to utility companies.