IID shutoff moratorium to end Feb. 17

EL CENTRO — The Imperial Irrigation

Board of Directors Tuesday afternoon ended the 10-month moratorium on electrical disconnections for delinquent accounts effective Feb. 17 by a 4-0 vote.

Division 5 Director Norma Sierra Galindo was not in attendance.

The delinquencies in the energy account have increased to more than $11 million. About 78 percent of the accounts are past due by more than 91 days.

The number of delinquent accounts have increased from 1,585 in March to 13,162 in December, which is an increase of 700 percent.

All accounts with a balance of $50 or more that have not enrolled in a payment plan must be in a plan by Feb. 17.

IID Finance Director Belen Valenzuela said the district is a non-profit private agency that does not make a profit.

IID will begin communications regarding delinquent customer accounts and reinstate disconnects for non-payment effective Feb. 17.

Valenzuela said the district had yet to be contacted by ratepayers struggling to pay their bills due to COVID-19, so there is no way to know about their situation. She added there are funds available for those who might need them.

“We are very mindful of the financial hardships to the public,” she said, adding that 78 percent of the more than $11 million in delinquent accounts are seriously overdue.

“It continues to grow and grow,” she said. “We are still trying to help our customers.”

Those customers who are not on an energy assistance program will need to pay off their delinquent account within eight months.

For customers on an energy assistance program or who have provided documentation of a coronavirus hardship, there will be a 12-month payment plan.

Customers on IID’s energy assistance program for those who declared a COVID hardship will be referred to other community agency programs and resources that are able to provide assistance.

Customers requesting a payment plan modification over eight months and not under financial hardship will be required to pay at least 25 percent of their utility bills accumulated in 2020 with the remaining amount to be paid over a 12-month period.

The average residential average delinquency is $433, so under the eight-month plan, which means the average arrearage payment would be $54.20 per month. For those in the 12-month payment plan, the average would be $36.13 a month.

Failure to meet the terms of the plans would result in disconnections.

The proposal submitted by Comite Civico del Valle asked for a 25 percent forgiveness for good payment history, but

IID rejected that idea. Doing so, Valenzuela said, could result in rate increases and is not fair to those who have been making payments.

She said there are many customers who had their pay or hours reduced but continue to pay their energy bills, so it would not be fair to them to allow those who fell behind to get a discount.

IID President James Hanks wanted to make sure those being put on a payment plan would not be charged extra fees for being late prior to being put on the payment plan. Valenzuela said that is correct.

IID Director Javier Gonzalez questioned why the district charged a fee for customers who want to pay their bills by a credit or debit card when other agencies charge a lot less than the IID.

Valenzuela said if the IID did not charge the $1.99 convenience fee, the district would have to absorb about $700,000 a year in card transaction fees.

General Manager Henry Martinez indicated the district would look into other providers who may not charge as much for this practice.

“We have to look at other service providers,” he said.