{"id":"AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-015","kind":"order","level":"sector-regulator","jurisdiction":"Pennsylvania (State public utility commission)","state":"PA","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG","eco":"","issuer":"Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Motion adopted at the October 8, 2020 public meeting; order entered at Docket M-2020-3019244)","authority":"66 Pa.C.S. 501, 1501; 52 Pa. Code ch. 3","instrument":"Press release, \u0027PUC Enhances Utility Protections for Families \u0026 Businesses Struggling with Financial Impact of COVID-19\u0027 (October 8, 2020), reporting the Commission\u0027s order modifying the March 13, 2020 Emergency Order","title":"Termination moratorium lifted effective November 9, 2020 for customers able to pay; no terminations for residential customers within 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines; 18-month payment arrangements for small businesses; waiver of connection, reconnection and deposit fees and late payment charges for protected customers; monthly reporting through March 31, 2021","dateIssued":"2020-10-08","effective":"2020-10-08 (safeguards); terminations permitted from 2020-11-09","end":"\u0027The consumer safeguards and monthly reports established in the Motion will remain in effect no later than March 31, 2021, unless the Governor\u0027s Emergency Proclamation is rescinded before that date or the Commission establishes a different timeframe\u0027","startDate":"2020-10-08","endDate":"2021-03-31","quarters":["2020Q4","2021Q1"],"types":["OTHER"],"addressees":["all jurisdictional electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications and steam utilities"],"clause":"Today\u0027s new PUC consumer safeguards modify an earlier emergency order suspending all public utility terminations, which was issued by the Commission in mid-March.... No Terminations for \u0027Protected Customers\u0027 - Utilities shall not terminate service for residential customers with incomes within 300% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG), unless otherwise authorized by the Commission.... Payment Arrangements for Small Businesses - Utilities shall offer a payment arrangement for a period of no less than 18 months to small business customers, as defined by a utility\u0027s tariff. A small business customer who remains current on its payment arrangement and current bill shall not be terminated. Waiver of Connection/Reconnection Fees - Utilities shall waive all connection, reconnection and deposit fees for protected customers. No Late Payment Charges - Late payment charges are waived for protected customers.... With these enhanced safeguards in place for struggling households and small businesses, the PUC\u0027s emergency moratorium on all other utility terminations will be lifted, effective Nov. 9, 2020. This applies to all electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications, and [steam utilities].","enforcement":"66 Pa.C.S. 3301; monthly reports due December 15, 2020 and the 15th of each month to March 31, 2021","functions":["OP collections and termination operations (all terminations barred Mar. 13-Nov. 9, 2020; protected-customer and small-business terminations barred to Mar. 31, 2021)","CB small business customers entitled to 18-month arrangements","SV termination and reconnection work","OF monthly reporting and 10-day pre-termination notices"],"notes":"The release states that the termination and collections moratorium \u0027can resume November 9 for customers able to pay.\u0027","sourceUrl":"https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2020/puc-enhances-utility-protections-for-families-businesses-struggling-with-financial-impact-of-covid-19","snapshot":"http://web.archive.org/web/20201030194119/https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2020/puc-enhances-utility-protections-for-families-businesses-struggling-with-financial-impact-of-covid-19","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":457210,"grade":"primary","character":"","description":"","collection":"AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG","url":"/library/AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-015","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-015","citation":"Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Motion adopted at the October 8, 2020 public meeting; order entered at Docket M-2020-3019244), Press release, \u0027PUC Enhances Utility Protections for Families \u0026 Businesses Struggling with Financial Impact of COVID-19\u0027 (October 8, 2020), reporting the Commission\u0027s order modifying the March 13, 2020 Emergency Order (Oct. 8, 2020) (Ex. AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-015)","stateName":"Pennsylvania","related":[]}