With Covid-19, millions of California customers have fallen behind on their utility bills. A CPUC Commissioner recently exclaimed, the number of Californians behind on their utility bills is “extraordinarily frightening.”
A recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune reviewed the situation. More than 3.3 million residential customers have past-due bills with the amount surpassing the $1 billion mark. As of January, SDG&E residential customers are behind by approximately $145 million; in other words, 22.6% are currently in arrears.
UCAN has been intervening in a CPUC proceeding to establish Arrearage Management Plans (AMP) to help customers who have fallen behind on their bills. Now, UCAN has joined in another proceeding (R.21-02-014) which will address electricity debt accumulated during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Commission opened this rulemaking to consider whether to establish special relief programs for customers who could not pay their electricity bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the moratorium on service disconnections continues in California until June 30, 2021. The Commission is worried about when this moratorium ends and the customers who will face large outstanding electricity bills. UCAN also has concerns and does not want to see a wave of disconnections that would negatively impact these struggling households even more.
UCAN, through its UCAN, We Can program, also helps individual consumers with billing problems. Thanks to our sister Intervenor, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), our Consumer Advocate recently participate in some outstanding training offered by TURN. The materials and information covered various resources, including emergency CPUC consumer protections, financial assistance programs, customer discount programs and the latest information on AMPs. Should you require assistance, please contact our Consumer Advocate-UCAN is here for you!
UCAN thanks TURN for its great work and training! More information about TURN can be found at its website: www.turn.org. And training slides and materials can be viewed here:
Staying Connected During & After COVID
Support for Customers: A Primer for Advocates
Since 1983, your contributions, large or small, have made a difference in our work to educate, represent, and advocate for the consumer. If you like what you’ve seen and read, please go to Support UCAN and contribute any amount you can!
Thank You!
Together – UCAN, We Can!