Commissioners Urge Utilities to
Extend Moratorium on Disconnections through Winter 2021
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[September 15, 2020]
Concerned with steady coronavirus infection
rates and the approaching cold weather, the Illinois Commerce
Commission on Friday sent a letter to large state-regulated
utilities requesting an extension of the moratorium on residential
customer disconnections for non-payment until March 31, 2021.
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The letter, signed by all five Commissioners,
notes that the Illinois Department of Public Health has reported
over 240,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases; and 30 Illinois counties
stand at a warning level due to increasing COVID-19 cases. In
addition, more restrictive mitigation measures have been imposed on
Illinois Regions 4 and 7 to slow the spread of the virus.
While acknowledging that many utilities may now disconnect customers
for non-payment, the Commission’s letter requested that utilities
voluntarily extend the moratorium on residential customer
disconnections to align with the winter heating rules. Each year,
the state imposes a winter moratorium for gas and electric services
beginning December 1st and ending on March 31st.
Last week, the ICC announced the following
companies agreed to extend the moratorium on disconnections for
residential customers until September 30, 2020: Nicor Gas,
Northshore/Peoples Gas, Illinois American Water, Aqua Illinois, and
Utility Services of Illinois.
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Ameren Illinois and ComEd agreed to extend through
September 10, 2020. Consumer Gas and Liberty Utilities previously
agreed to not disconnect customers until 6 months after the
stipulated moratorium period expired, which occurred on June 26,
2020, taking them into the winter months.
The Commission encourages residents who are struggling to pay their
utility bills to call their utility company and request assistance.
Deferred payment arrangements are available to help low-income
customers and those financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To view the letter and learn more about the ICC’s response to COVID
19 visit,
https://www.icc.illinois.gov/home/covid-19.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |