PUC offers help with past-due bills
Extended payment plans offered by utilities
The state’s utilities must modify their collection policies to offer extended payment plans.
HARRISBURG » The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a measure requiring the state’s utilities to modify their collection policies to offer extended payment plans to help those with past-due utility bills.
The measure, approved by the commission on March 11, applies to all PUC-regulated electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications and steam utilities.
Depending on their income level, consumers will be able to obtain a repayment plan of 1, 2 or up to 5 years to address their arrearage, according to the commission.
Public Utility Commission Chairwoman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille introduced the motion, noting that public health and financial factors are still impacting consumers, businesses and utilities across the state, including continued COVID-19 infections, unemployment, and substantial past-due balances for utilities.
She also recognized the increased vaccinations, the gradual improvement of the economy and state and federal assistance available for utility customers and others working to overcome the impacts of the pandemic, according to a press release.
“In recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission’s March 13 Emergency Order, and the accumulation of customer arrearages, it is appropriate for utilities and the commission to offer extended repayment terms to residential and small business customers,” Dutrieuille’s motion read.
With the added protections in place, the Public Utility Commission has lifted its order prohibiting disconnection of utility service for non-payment, effective April 1, 2021.
Several additional payment plan options have been established:
• For residential customers with incomes below 250% of federal income guidelines (FPIG), a utility is required to offer a payment arrangement length of a minimum of 5 years while allowing the customer to agree to or request a shorter payment arrangement and the utility to agree to a longer payment arrangement.
• For residential customers with incomes between 250% and 300% of the federal guidelines, a utility is required to offer a payment arrangement length of a minimum of 2 years while allowing the customer to agree to or request a shorter payment arrangement and the utility to agree to a longer payment arrangement.
• For residential customers with incomes over 300% of the federal guidelines, a utility is required to offer a payment arrangement for a minimum length of 1 year while allowing the customer to agree to or request a shorter payment arrangement and the utility to agree to a longer payment arrangement.
• For small business customers, a utility is required to offer a payment arrangement for a minimum length of 18 months while allowing the customer to agree to or request a shorter payment arrangement and the utility to agree to a longer payment arrangement.
The federal income guidelines (FPIG) are used nationally to determine eligibility for numerous state and federal income-qualified programs and vary based on household size.
“Additionally, utilities and the Public Utility Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services may continue to use flexible means for income verification and business status information, including over-the-phone or via electronic mail, for the purpose of qualifying customers for payment arrangements and/or universal service programs,” the release stated.
Representatives from PECO and PA American Water previously told MediaNews Group the companies have seen higher numbers of delinquent bills during the pandemic, and have been communicating with customers in a variety of ways to let them know about the help available to them.
Funmi Williamson, PECO’s chief customer officer previously said that the company has never seen the level of arrearages as this pandemic has created.
Under the measure, the utilities will submit quarterly reports to the commission for the rest of 2021 — detailing the number of accounts at risk of termination at the end of the month; the total aggregate dollars of arrears at the end of the month; and the number of accounts disconnected for non-payment with dollar amounts owed.
The information will be separated by residential and commercial accounts and should include information about accounts enrolled in Customer Assistance Programs, if appropriate, according to the release.