(Assembly Bill 135, Chapter 85, Statutes of 2021), energy utilities are to prioritize 2021CAPP assistance to eligible customer accountsinthe following order: Active residential customers with past due balances whoare at risk of disconnection due to nonpayment. He bought a generator. Many people dont know that they are still protected from shutoffs. Cash payments by appointment only. You will not be required to make payments towards the balance of arrears greater than $8,000 while enrolled in AMP. You can also call 1-800-655-4555 to receive help in determining eligibility. 2. Both tenants and landlords with low-income tenants who have fallen behind on rent because of the pandemic can apply for relief. They are provided for general information only and any rates, terms or conditions of service should be verified by directly contacting the utility.). The Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) provides an opportunity for qualifying SoCalGas residential customers to have their eligible past due bills forgiven. Utility Billing Relief (UBR) provides low-income City of Chicago residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax as well as debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year. New Debt Forgiveness Program . He said that a water department representative told him last week that he had to pay a third of his outstanding bill money that he said he doesnt have before he can qualify for a payment plan. The waiting period starts the month after you are dropped from the program. Be sure to have a complete copy of your bill in front of you. The California utility bill debt forgiveness programs proposed last week sidestep some of these problems by requiring utilities, instead of customers, to apply, and by not requiring customers to . For problems with energy, communications, or water utilities: 1-800-649-7570. The water program legislation requires the water board to start distributing funds by Nov. 1. He knew his cars radiator was low, but he was out of coolant and bottled water. Gov. CaliforniaGovernment Code Section16429.5, 2021 California Arrearage Payment ProgramReport to the Legislature, CAPP Utility Customer Service Contact List, Press Release:State Approves $1 Billion in Benefits to Reduce Past Due Energy Bills Accrued During the Pandemic, Press Release: State Approves First Payments to Reduce Past Due Energy Bills Incurred During the Pandemic, Assembly Bill 135 (Chapter85, Statutes of 2021), CAPP Information Session Presentation- July 21, 2021. It has also not publicized that decision. He reminded his kids not to open the refrigerator, so the food wouldnt spoil. Hollman disputes that he illegally reconnected the water, saying it never stopped flowing and that he never received notices it would be shut off. Los Angeles County utilities are providing resources and relief to eligible residents. He applied for unemployment benefits so that he could focus on overseeing his childrens virtual schooling without any electricity coming to the house, but the checks dont cover rent, food and generator fuel. Utility debt makes up about 6% of all assistance requested so far. 2-1-1. Rent and utilities. Hollmans utilities troubles began well before the pandemic. Answer questions such as, "How can I reduce or lower my utility bill?". If you successfully complete the program, you may enroll again after a 12-month waiting period, provided you still meet the eligibility requirements. When it comes to forgiving Californias utility debt, key questions remain: For public health and safety, its important for people to have roofs over their heads, clean water and power. AsCalMatters reported, lengthy online applications available in too few languages initially blocked access to vulnerable renters, while distribution has been painfully slow. Which couldnt happen until he paid off the debt. The California Municipal Utilities Association estimated unpaid energy bills at publicly owned utilities topped $300 million, while close to 4 million customers of investor-owned utilities were behind on energy bills, totaling $1.4 billion, as of late June, according to a California Public Utilities Commission spokesperson. Service shall not be discontinued due to nonpayment for those customers with arrearages accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period while CSD reviews and approves all pending 2021CAPP applications. The utility says it plans to use approximately $300 million in economic relief funds to help reduce amounts owed an in certain cases eliminated entirely by more than 250,000 qualifying . e 2021California Arrearage Payment Program (2021CAPP) offers financial assistance for California energy utility customers to help reduce past due energy bill balances that increasedduring the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 11, lawmakers revealed a plan to use one-time federal relief money to address the debt. This will be an important reboot to protect Californians and utility companies, said Ellen Hanak, director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California. Legislators agreed to the price tag in June, but continued negotiating the distribution plan in private. You cant crack.. Specifically, the amount would be lowered from 10% of your disposable income to 5%, and less income would be classified as disposable. He signed both the energy relief bill and the water relief bill into law. Hollman and his kids are used to life without air conditioning in one of Californias hottest regions. There are four distinct phases of 2021CAPP implementation that are required for energyutilities participatingin theprogram. Missing two payments in a row will result in termination from AMP. As Hollman tells it, he was caught in a Catch-22. A spokesperson for the state's COVID-19 Rent Relief program said that of the $158 million distributed as of July 16, less than $40,000 had gone to utilities relief. May 4, 2021. But, Hollman said, a representative promised that water would stay on while the pandemic lasted. If the past due amount displayed on your current bill is greater than the sum of your previous two months bills, you most likely owe an amount that is at least 90 days old. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Bell-Holt said that if shed known she wasnt at risk on June 30, I wouldnt put us in a hole like that.. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help with: Assistance to pay your heating or cooling bills. Emergency services in case of an energy crisis, such as a utility shutoff. As CalMatters reported, lengthy online applications available in too few languages initially blocked access to vulnerable renters, while distribution has been painfully slow. Please contact CalMatters with any commentary questions: commentary@calmatters.org. Most water providers, by contrast, are public . CARE - Save 30% or more. (Neither the California Public Utilities Commission nor the Communications Division of the California Public Utilities Commission guarantees or assures the accuracy of the tariffs filed on utility web sites below. Here's what you need to know. I have a history of paying my bills, working, being a good provider. The Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) is designed to help low-income families during the heating season. Advocates cheered that choice, but worried lawmakers didnt go far enough to prevent shutoffs. More than one in five customers behind on bills had debt over $1,000. 2022CAPP funding will be released to energy utilities by January 31, 2023. In May, Newsom proposed $2 billion to relieve utilities debt. Call 1-800-205-8596. If you are removed from AMP, you are eligible to sign up again after a 12-month waiting period, provided you still meet the eligibility requirements. This fee is based on the telecommunications carrier's gross intrastate revenue excluding inter-carrier sales, equipment sales and directory advertising. Many people dont know that they are still protected from shutoffs. Stano of the Greenlining Institute said that the bill language doesnt prevent publicly owned utilities from shutting off power right now. Hollmans utilities troubles began well before the pandemic. [CDATA[// >