But the company says it . CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated Michael Jamisons name. Rochester Public Utilities Were in a utility debt crisis, Johnson said. Sign up and get the latest stories from THE CITY delivered to your inbox each morning, Next Up In Working in New York City, the media capital of the world, he speaks daily with reporters from local and national NEW YORK Con Edison crews have been working throughout this health crisis responding to emergency calls, performing safety-related inspections, addressing customer issues, providing power to new medical facilities, and conducting the critical work needed to prepare and protect the grid for the stresses of summer. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This new law provides several important safeguards for residential utility customers by: One limitation of this new law is that it requires reconnections only for utility services that were terminated during the COVID-19 state of emergency. No order from the Public Service Commission is expected. Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries. Con Edison does not accept these payment methods. But utility payments are the tipping point. All together, they owe over $1.7 billion, according to THE CITYs analysis of data provided to the state by 10 utility companies. April 7, 2020. 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. Nancy Luna | Mar 20, 2020. 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. After hearing about the states assistance programs, she reached out to the Affordable Housing Alliance in Monmouth County, which counsels New Jersey residents on how to seek help in paying rent and utility bills. In March 2023 all SNAP households in New York State will receive their normal benefit amount, without the added allotment. But producing high-quality, independent work is not cost-free we rely heavily on your support. What utilities are protected from shutoff? Now those companies are using the threat of shut-offs to collect for the first time in two years, and advocates fear that struggling utility customers will have to choose between heat and electricity and other necessities like food and medicine. If you have an issue with your utility and would like to file a complaint, please contact the Consumer Affairs Branch via phone at 1-800-649-7570 or via email at consumer-affairs@cpuc.ca.gov. Imagine having months of accumulated bills and needing to pay those off on top of your monthly bill, in the middle of an ongoing economic crisis. Lets keep building on it. 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. It includes electric heat. As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to have unprecedented impacts on the state, Georgia Power's suspension of disconnections is being extended following a vote by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). Per Governor Cuomos March 13, 2020 directive, all energy and water utilities operating under the states authority have been ordered to halt terminations of service for both commercial and residential customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If you get a termination notice, contact the company that provides your utility service. Con Edison will temporarily suspend any electric and gas shutoffs for customers that are having payment difficulties related to COVID-19 coronavirus. SNAP Emergency Allotments are ending by the end of the month. Switching to more energy-efficient appliances, using LED bulbs instead of incandescent and washing laundry in cold water all help the cause, among other measures. Experts say the hotter weather pattern might push the Earth into unprecedented territory next year. Republicans have introduced several bills aimed at bolstering the fossil fuel industry, seemingly at all costs. The program protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15 and March 15 of each year. Business customers may wish to rent a portable generator, but please note that we cannot reimburse you for this cost. Bills such as the Build Public Renewables Act would help by requiring the states largest publicly owned utility to be the sole provider to both state-owned and municipally owned buildings and to exclusively source renewable energy. Some Texans described facing $5,000 utility bills after winter storms caused prices to surge. Austin, Texas, Energy Analyst Lead (Hybrid) Natural gas bills are projected to be about 29% higher than last year. Thank you @NewYorkHunger for spreading this essential information. In addition, we are leveraging the guidance of the CDC, state and local authorities. Privacy Policy |Terms of service |Subscription terms |Your ad choices |Cookie Settings |California Privacy Rights |About Us |Contact Newsday |Reprints & permissions |Advertise with Newsday |Help. Ms. Huba said she paid $500 toward the $1,400 she owed Con Edison in hopes of averting a shutoff notice. Magazine,Outside Magazine, on New England Public Radio and elsewhere. Her work has appeared inUndark,Sierra Magazine,Yes! But that is still significantly higher than before the pandemic, when debt totaled about $12 billion. You can contact Con Ed to get on a payment plan, which allows you to pay off the bill over time. Learn more about NRDCs response to COVID-19. But Ms. Kerr had good news, telling her that she qualified for the states Fresh Start program. A Zoom conference featuring Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller was cut short on Thursday after one of the attendees posted pornographic images that were visible to the others on the call . There would have been no way that I can get paid up by then, Ms. Inghilleri said. Moratoriums have expired on turning off utilities for customers who have failed to pay their bills, prompting fears that thousands could be left in the dark. But 1.2 million households and more than 128,000 businesses across New York State are at least 60 days behind on energy bills, according to monthly reports submitted to the New York State Department of Public Service and analyzed by the Alliance For a Green Economy (AGREE). In California, for instance, a statewide arrearage management plan sets aside $1 billion in funding to help with utility debt. There is merit to the idea that air-conditioning is helpful during a pandemic, as the US board ASHRAE said. The federal government offers the Home Energy Assistance Program, but the application process is cumbersome and doesnt stretch far enough. 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 . Similarly, many private water service providers have also ceased service disconnections because of customers inability to pay. The company is offering flexible payment plans that will be protected from service disconnection . As a result, major energy utility providers including NYSEG, RG&E, and National Grid have suspended terminations of service to customers for matters arising from inability to pay. 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. The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end the moratorium blocking utilities from disconnecting power, a policy put in place to help residents financially during the COVID-19 . Residents or business owners in New York City, except the Rockaways, can get information from Con Edison. New Jersey has used $250 million in federal pandemic relief to expand programs to help people pay down, or even eliminate, their utility debts. Beginning with work that requires little-to-no interaction with customers, crews will resume gas main replacement and service work, reading meters and installing smart meters on the exterior of buildings or in public areas such as common basements. prohibiting shutoffs during the COVID-19 state of emergency for non-payment of a utility bill; requiring reconnection, within 48 hours of disconnection, for utility service that had been shut off . Not quite. EPU Supervising Paralegal (Rochester) Therefore, in addition to the protections included in this new law, it remains vital to ensure that service is restored promptly to all families, even if they were disconnected before the state of emergency began. Ms. Inghilleri said she had never fallen so far behind on any bills that she had to seek assistance. State officials recommend anyone with a shut-off notice to set up a plan now with their electric . Moreover, when the shutoff moratorium expires, many customers will be faced with accumulated arrears that they are unable to pay off, even with an extended payment plan. update email soon. For the 2022-23 winter season, in general, electric and natural gas bills are expected to be higher on average than last year. As of May 7, 447,990 Alabamians had filed . 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. If someone claims to be from Con Edison, call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) and check the employees name and ID. "Its the biggest thing on the bill," he said of the boldface type. Con Edison crews and contractors will observe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and city health guidelines. On April 2, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order N-42-20 prohibiting shut offs of water service to residences and critical infrastructure sector small businesses. Given the background of a collapsing stock and equity market, all of which matters to the utilities, we have to be careful about blanket moratoriums [on shutoffs] in New York, Berkley said. Most Popular Stories. The moratorium on shutoffs now includes its entire New York City and Westchester County territory. Jackie Huba, who lives in Harlem, got a bill from Con Edison in January for $891, double what she was billed two months before.