Illinois electric, gas and water utilities pledge to cease residential disconnects through March 2021
Several electric, gas, and water utilities in Illinois have voluntarily pledged to cease all residential disconnections through March 31, 2021.
This builds on statutory winter rules scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1, 2020, which normally do not apply to water utilities. However, this year the water utilities Aqua Illinois, Illinois American Water, and Utility Services of Illinois have agreed to cease disconnects to customers in the Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) and those who self-report financial or COVID-19 related hardships.
They join electric and gas utilities Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Liberty Utilities, Nicor, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas. Their joint effort has received praise from the Illinois Commerce Commission.
“Difficult times lie ahead in Illinois as we are experiencing a dangerous second wave of COVID-19 cases,” ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski said. “The growing concerns of this virus have prompted the state’s largest gas and electric utilities to voluntarily stop disconnections for all residential customers immediately. We all must do as much as we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and encourage each other to stay home and stay safe. I commend the utility companies who have stepped up to provide this needed protection for all of their residential customers.”
Additional help is being provided in bill payment assistance programs and extended deferred payment arrangements, though these vary by utility. At Ameren, for example, this will take the form of $200 for electric customers and $150 for gas customers, while at Aqua, between $150 and $250 could be provided for water bill help. Regardless, customers will be able to enter longer deferred payment arrangements with small down payments through Dec. 26, 2020, under agreements reached between utilities, consumer advocates, and the ICC.
