On March 13th, 2020, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille signed an emergency order prohibiting electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunication, and steam utility companies from terminating service for lack of payment. In addition to this order, many utility companies are offering financial assistance to customers who are struggling to pay their utility bills due to the financial impact of COVID-19.
If you need assistance, check to see if your utility company offers Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs), which allow qualifying low-income customers to pay discounted bills. If you do not qualify for CAPs, here are some other options that may be provided by your utility company:
- Budget Billing: Levels out your costs by taking a customer’s annual utility costs and averages them out over 12 months so that your bills don’t jump up or down from month to month.
- Payment Plans: These plans can help address past-due bills or delinquent balances over a period of time.
- Hardship Funds: These funds are supported by utilities and donations from utility customers and non-profit organizations.
- Lifeline Service: Lifeline is a federal financial support program that helps eligible low-income consumers and households to keep their telephone and internet access. You can find more information about Lifeline at lifelinesupport.org or 1-800-234-9473.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): LIHEAP can provide financial assistance with heating-related utilities and crisis funding to address emergency situations. Call your utility company to inquire about these programs.
Click here for a full list of utility assistant programs in Pennsylvania. Program names vary by state and company, so be sure to do your research to determine which plan works best for you.
If you have any questions about your current supply agreement, please do not hesitate to reach out to your EEP representative. We are here to support you! Contact the team via email or at 877-280-4655.