lights out in the cold

LIGHTS OUT IN THE COLDReforming Utility Shut-Off Policies as If Human Rights Matter

Environmental and Climate Justice Program, NAACP

March 2017

ii

LIGHTSOUTINTHECOLD:ReformingUtilityShut-OffPoliciesasIfHumanRightsMatter

March 2017 Created by the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215 (410) 580-5777 [email protected] www.naacp.org Foreword by: Jacqueline Patterson, Environment and Climate Justice Program Director, NAACP

Primary Authors: Marcus Franklin, NAACP Caroline Kurtz, Georgetown University Law Center

Contributing Authors: Mike Alksnis, NAACP

Lorah Steichen, NAACP Chiquita Younger, NAACP

Acknowledgements This report was made possible by the support and dedicated work on utility disconnection protection and policy development of:

Professor Scott Hempling, Georgetown University Law Center

Dr. Holmes Hummel, Founder, Clean Energy Works

David Pomerantz, Executive Director, Energy and Policy Institute

The National Consumer Law Center

The Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

The Committee to End Utility Shut Offs

Public Utility Law Center ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

iii

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

As a part of a broader consumer protection arrangement, the adoption of utility disconnection policies

acknowledges theproblems facedbycustomerswhoarevulnerable tohaving theirutilitiesdisconnected.

Unfortunately, the interests of these customers often compete with the interests of utility companies,

regulators,andotherutility customers.Thisposesanobstacle to thedesignofappropriatedisconnection

policiesthatrecognizethenecessityofutilityservicesandtherightsofutilitycustomers.A“disconnection

policy”describesthejustifications,procedures,andconsumerprotectionswithwhichautilitymustcomply

before terminating service to a customer. Although a utility typicallymaintains the right to disconnect a

customer for a variety of reasons, there are more

problematic issues with disconnection because of

nonpayment.1

This report provides a comprehensive overview of

commondisconnectionprotectionsandpoliciesemployed

byutilitiesnationwide,explorescriticalissuesthatshould

be considered in the development of disconnection

policies,andcallsforconcreteactiontowardestablishing

policiesthatprotectthewell-beingofallutilitycustomers

and the eventual ELIMINATION OF UTILITYDISCONNECTIONS.Theneedtoincorporatehumanrights

intotheutilitybusinessmodel isakeycomponentofthe

larger reform of the extractive energy economy and

movement toward energy justice. The energy justice

movementupholds that all individuals have the right to:

safe,sustainableenergyproduction;resilientandupdated

energy infrastructure; affordable energy; and

uninterruptedenergyservice.2

This report discusses common disconnection

protections across all types of utilities, but focuses

on those set for Investor-Owned Utilities (IOU's).

Issueswithexistingdisconnectionpracticesandstatelevelmodelpoliciesareexplored.Recommendations

fortheestablishmentofarighttoutilityserviceareput forwardtoensurethefutureprotectionofutility

customers.

EXISTINGSTATEPOLICIES

PROCEDURALPROTECTIONSANDCONSIDERATIONS:

• All states require utility companies to provide a written, phone, or personally delivered notice

beforeadisconnection.

AftermathofaspaceheaterfireinPrinceGeorge'sCounty,MDSource:http://patch.com/maryland/bowie/space-heaters-cause-bedroom-fires-twice-week-0

iv

• There is awide rangeofdisconnection limitations. Somestateswill notdisconnectduring certain

hoursofdaysoftheweek,whileotherstateswillnotdisconnectbeforeorduringaholiday.

• Fifteenstatesdonotspecifypoliciesforutilityreconnectionfees.

SEASONALPROTECTIONS:

• Date-based protections take place during the colder months, usually between the months of

NovemberandMarchorApril.Temperatureprotectionsarebasedonvariousrangesofhotandcold

temperatures that could place residents in danger. Most of the states will not disconnect when

temperaturesarebelow32°Forabove95°F,buttheofferingofthisprotectionvariesbystate.

• Nine states do not provide any state regulated seasonal protections for utility customers. These

statesinclude:Alaska,California,Colorado,Connecticut,Florida,NorthDakota,Oregon,Tennessee,

andVirginia.

PAYMENTASSISTANCE

• Moststatesofferapaymentplanoptiontoavoiddisconnectionsandchargeafeetoreconnectto

utilityservices.

PROTECTIONSFORSOCIALLYVULNERABLEGROUPS

• Medical protections are generally offered for disabled or elderly customers. Generally, amedical

certificateisrequiredtopostponeadisconnectionforvariousamountsoftime.

• Eightstatesdonothaveregulationsestablishingstandardprotectionsforsociallyvulnerablegroups.

Among these states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, North

Dakota,andRhodeIsland.

THERIGHTTOUNINTERUPTEDENERGYSERVICE

Theestablishmentofauniversalrighttouninterruptedenergyservicewouldensurethatprovisionsareinplacetopreventutilitydisconnectionduetonon-paymentandarrearages.3Towardestablishingsucharight,

wecall forallutilitycompanies toadvocate forand incorporate the following foundationalprinciples into

theirmodels,operations,andpolicies:

1. SecureACCESStoutilityservicesforallhouseholds;2. EnsureINCLUSIONofallcustomersinthedevelopmentofutilitypoliciesandregulations;

3. Create full TRANSPARENCYof the informationandactionsofutilitycompanies, regulatingbodies,

legislatures,andutilityaffiliatedorganizations;

4. GuaranteethePROTECTIONofthehumanandcivilrightsofallcustomers;and

5. AdvanceprogramsthathelpELIMINATEPOVERTY,sothatallcustomerscanpayutilitybills.

While the end goal is clear—to prioritize utility policies that place a moratorium on utility servicedisconnections—theseprinciplescanbefurtheredthroughthefollowingpractices:

PROCEDURALPROTECTIONS

1. Require multiple attempts at both written and telephonic or in-person contact before

disconnection;

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2. Securenotificationofdisconnectionbymail;

3. Requireapost-disconnectionnoticetoallcustomers;4. Provideadditionalnoticeprovisionsforcustomerswhocanbedisconnectedremotely;

5. Restrict disconnections to times between 8:00am-2:00pm on days when the utility has

employeesavailabletoreconnectutilityservices;6. Providenoticeandutilitydisconnectionpoliciesinmultiplelanguages;

7. Removeallpoliciesallowingutilitiestochargedisconnectionandreconnectionfees;

8. Ceasethecollectionofdepositsforutilityserviceactivationand/orreconnection;

SEASONALPROTECTIONS

9. Includeseasonalprotectionswithbothtemperatureanddate-basedsolutions;10. Setdisconnectionarrearageminimumsforcustomerswhouseutilityservicesastheprimary

sourceofheatingorcoolingduringperiodsofseasonalprotection;11. Provide utility services during extreme weather events that fall outside of seasonal

protectionperiods;

PAYMENTASSISTANCE

12. Allowbudgetpaymentplanstodistributeutilitycoststhroughouttheyear;13. Allowpartialpaymentplanstocustomerstopreventdisconnections;14. Provideconnectionstosocialservicesandcasemanagementresourcesforhouseholdswith

arrearages;

PROTECTIONSFORTHESOCIALLYVULNERABLE

15. Establish simple procedures for socially vulnerable groups to apply and be registered for

protectionfromdisconnection;16. Implementcustomersurveysinadvanceofextremeweatherseasonstoscreenforsocially

vulnerableindividuals;17. Ensure active outreach to socially vulnerable customers and households for inclusion in

protectionprograms;and18. Registrationintotheseprogramsshouldbecomplimentedwithanotificationtolocaland/or

stateemergencyreliefagenciesandsafetyresponders.

Thepoliciesandprotectionsdetailedinthisreportrepresentstop-gapmeasurestolessenharmsonutility

customerwellbeing. Inadvancingenergy justice,all individualshave the right to: safe, sustainableenergy

production; resilient and updated energy infrastructure; affordable energy; and uninterrupted energy

service.4The NAACP calls for the development of policies and utility structures that improve energy

efficiency throughout theenergycontinuum,advancecleanand renewableenergyproduction,encourage

andenablethedevelopmentofdistributedgeneration,andprotecthumanlifeandwellbeing.Theseaspects

arecomponentsofthelargerutilitysystemchangethatwemustbuild.

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

FOREWORD:ACALLTOMORALITY—byjacquelinePatterson,NAACPEnvironmentalandclimatejusticeProgram

Director...............................................................................................................................................................................vii

Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................................2

TheHumanCostofUtilityDisconnection.........................................................................................................................3

DisconnectionPoliciesandTheirRegulation........................................................................................................................5

WhatisaDisconnectionPolicy?.......................................................................................................................................5

HowareDisconnectionPoliciesRegulated?.....................................................................................................................6

CompetingInterests.........................................................................................................................................................7

DisproportionateEnergyBurdens........................................................................................................................................9

TypesofDisconnectionPolicies.........................................................................................................................................15

StateDisconnectionProtectionPolicies.............................................................................................................................18

ModelStatePolicies.......................................................................................................................................................18

FinancingtoReduceandEliminateDIsconnections...........................................................................................................23

BillAssistancePrograms.................................................................................................................................................23

WeatherizationandEnergyEfficiencyPrograms...........................................................................................................24

InclusiveFinancingModels.............................................................................................................................................25

TheNeedforUniterruptedService....................................................................................................................................26

ImprovedDataCollection,Research,andTransparency................................................................................................27

UpholdingHumanRightsintheShortTerm...................................................................................................................29

BuildingontheLegacyofChange...................................................................................................................................32

LONGTERMVISION........................................................................................................................................................33

FromPersecutedbymyUtilitytoPoweredandEmpoweredbytheSUN!-AmyMays,Arizona.......................................35

AppendixA:ElectricityAffordabilityIndex-U.S.States.....................................................................................................36

AppendixB:SurveyofStateDisconnectionPolcies...........................................................................................................37

EndNotes...........................................................................................................................................................................66

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FOREWORD:ACALLTOMORALITY—BYJACQUELINEPATTERSON,NAACPENVIRONMENTALAND

CLIMATEJUSTICEPROGRAMDIRECTOR

Iwillneverforgetthesoundoffearinmyfather'svoiceonthephoneorthelookofdesperationinhiseyes

whenIwalkedthroughthedoor.IwashometotakecareofmyDadinwhatturnedouttobehislastdays

onearth.Ihadgoneouttogetsomeitemsthatheneeded.Mycellphoneranganditwashimontheother

endsayingthatthepowerhadgoneoutandhedidn'tknowhowlonghisrespiratorwouldrunwithoutit.I

racedhomeandasIopenedthedoor,myDadwasjuststandinginthemiddleofthelivingroom,attached

tohisrespirator, lookingdesperate. Itturnedoutto justbethat Ineededtofliptheswitchonthecircuit

breaker.Butitbringshomethereliancethatsomanyhaveonelectricitytosustainlife.

Asmanyofuswereenjoyingturkey,ham,ortofurkeywithlovedones,exchangingpresents,andengagingin

holidayfestivities,forsomeofus,allwasnotmerryandbright.Toomanyareshiveringinthedeepfreeze

thathadassailedalargeswathofthenation,huddledaroundspaceheatersoropenovendoorsinhomeslit

by candles or kerosene lamps, because they could not pay their electricity/heating bills and were thus

withoutthisvitalresource.Thestoriesovertheyearsaretoomanytolist,buteachonealonerepresentsa

moralimperativeforsystemsreformoftheutilitybusinessmodelbecausenolifeshouldbelostforlackof

thebasichumanrighttosafeshelter,inalandofplenty:

• A Maryland man in dire straits after having his electricity disconnected, resorted to using a

generator to power the home where he was raising his seven children.5 Carbon monoxide

releasedbythegeneratorkilledtheentirefamilyastheyslept.6AlsoinMD,afiresweptthrougha

rowhousekilling10people,including7childrenaged7months,5,7,11and12years,andtwo3

yearolds, aswell as3adults, after the terminationof theelectricity caused residents tobegin

usingcandlesandakerosenelampforelectricity.7

• InMichigan, John Skelley, a 69-year-oldman, passed away in his home from hypothermia and

othercauses,severaldaysafterhisgasservicewasdisconnected.8AlsoinMichigan,afiresparked

byaspaceheaterbeingusedtoheatthehomeafterutilitieshadbeenshutofftookthelivesof

threepeople.9

• InNewYork, three youngboys, ages 4months, 2 years, and 5 years died in a fire causedby a

candleusedforlightaftertheutilitycompanydisconnectedservicefornon-payment.10Inanother

New York incident, a child died in a fire started by a candle, in a home where service was

scheduledtobereconnected24hoursafterthedesperatemeasurestookhislife.11

• InCalifornia,fivechildren,ages4,1andtwo2yearolds,losttheirliveswhentheirelectricityhad

beendisconnectedandtheirmothers,whoweresisters livingtogether,usedcandlelightto light

theirhome,resultinginafire.12

Toooftenthesetragediesarechalkeduptotheinevitableconsequencesofpovertyandimplicitlyrelegated

tobeingsad,butacceptablelosses,withanunspokennotionthat“Wecan’tsavethemall!”However,every

oneoftheselosseswaspreventableandwecannot,ingoodconscience,standbyandwatchmorewhenwe

havethemeanstoensureaccessforall.

Thecostofextremepovertyshouldnotbeadeathsentence.

viii

Whetheritisextremesinheat,extremesincold,ortheneedforelectricitytopowerlifesavingdeviceslike

respirators or medicines requiring refrigeration not to mention just providing light,

electricity/heating/coolingisessential,notjustforqualityoflife,butalsoformaintenanceoflife!

We’vesharedasmallsamplingofillustrativestoriesoftheconsequencesofinactiononutilityshut-offsthat

havespanneddecades.Yet,withrelativeinaction,intermsofsystemreform,somanymoreareinharm’s

waynow,withthepotentialfordirecircumstancesresultingindesperateandpossiblydeadlyactions.Asof

December 15, 2015, in Pennsylvania alone, at least 9,169 households had no central heating and 414

households were using potentially unsafe heating sources.13In Michigan, ravaged by the post-industrial

economic downturn, from January to September 2013,DTE Energy--a utility company formerly knownas

Detroit Edison--reported 169,407 shut-offs, while another utility company, Consumers Energy (CMS),

reported118,203shutoffs.DisconnectionsinMichiganhaveincreaseddramaticallysincethecrashof2008,

withDTEcompletingtwoandhalftimesasmanyshutoffsin2011thanin2007.14Thistrendisobservableon

anationalscale.

Theheadlinestodayheraldingthe“winterweatherblast”with99millionpeople intheUSunderawinter

weatheradvisory15highlighttheprovenfatalcocktailbeingmixedwiththeingredientsbeingharshweather

andlackofprotectionforthousandsofvulnerablehouseholdswhoarestrugglingwithmakingendsmeet,

placingtheminavicethatcanresultinresortingtohazardousmeansoflightingandheating.

Sciencehas spokenand sohasMotherNatureas she continues respond toour abuse in the formof the

pollutingwaysweemploytogenerateenergy.Climatechangeisalreadyresultinginweatherextremesfrom

extreme heat to extreme cold to extreme storms. 16 As such, we are seeing more days where air

conditioningorat leastafan isrequiredanddaysofextremecoldrequiringheat,andgreateramountsof

snow to such an extent that even if someone wanted to leave an unheated home in search of warmth

elsewhere, thismay not be an option. Besideswhich, the ongoing crisis of homelessness finds themost

vulnerablecommunitieswithoutavailableshelterspace,oranyalternativesiftheirhomesareunsafe.17

Nationwide, annual temperatures have been rising over the past 50 years.18The hottest parts of the

country, includingTexas, theSouthwest, andFloridahavealreadyexperienced large increases inextreme

heatdays,includingdaysover90°F,95°F,and100°F.Extremeheatwhenpairedwithrisinghumiditylevels,

makeblisteringhotdaysmoredangerous.Citiesinthesestatesarefacingthegreatestprojectedincreases

indangerousheatoverthenextseveraldecades.19Withmorethan80percentofAmericanslivingincities,

urban heat islands, combined with greenhouse gas heat trapping, can have serious health effects for

hundreds ofmillions of people during the hottestmonths of the year. Heat is already the number one

weather-related killer in the U.S., triggering asthma attacks, heart attacks, and other serious health

impacts.20TheNationalCenterforDisasterPreparednessofColumbiaUniversityinNewYork,projectsthat

about 3,000 people in the U.S. could die each year from heat waves under current climate warming

patterns.Thisestimateisacombinationofvariousfactors,includingexposuretothehighergreenhousegas

emissions,higherurban-basedpopulations,andimpededclimateadaptationandmitigationefforts.21

Winterstormshavealsoincreasedinfrequencyandintensitysincethe1950s,andtheirtrackshaveshifted

andpower intensified in theU.S.Other trends in severe storms, including the intensity and frequencyof

tornadoes, hail, anddamaging thunderstormwinds, arebeing studied intensively for their relationship to

ix

climatechange.22Lossofinternaltemperaturecontrol,duetoextremeheatandcold,canresultinavariety

of illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion,heatstroke, andhyperthermiawhen exposed to

extreme heat, andhypothermiaand frostbite when exposed to extreme cold. Exposure to temperature

extremescanworsenchronichealthconditions.23

There areutilities, such as theRoanokeRural Electric Co-Op inNorthCarolina, that arebeing intentional

aboutdesigningabusinessmodelthatishumanrightsbased,protectiveoftheenvironment,yetfinancially

sound.Atthesametime,otherutilitiesaredrivingourcontinuedslidetowardscatastrophicclimatechange

by denying science, and in some cases, intentionally obscuring science as well as by their refusal to

aggressively pursue energy efficiency, embrace the transition to clean energy, and/or allow/facilitate

distributed generation of clean energy. 24 25 26 And

some of the most aggressive utilities are the ones

behindthe highestnumbersofshutoffswherethere

is record keeping. These utilities obstinately defend

the practices of fossil fuel based energy production,

disproportionately polluting the very same

communities, with the highest rates of shut-offs, to

producetheveryelectricitytowhichtheydonothave

access.

In Dayton Texas, Sam Houston Electric

Cooperative has disconnected the utilities of

vulnerable households in areas impacted by

theCedarPowerProject,whichoperatedthree

trashburningincineratorsuntil2008.27Theair

pollutionproducedbyincineratorsisknownto

contribute to the development of chronic

diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease (COPD)aswellasmanyother serious

healthproblems.28

Given that low-income communities, communities of

color, and vulnerable persons, including people who

are elderly, pay the highest proportion of their

incomes to energy and they are most vulnerable to

shut off andmost likely to suffer from the pollution

fromenergyproduction,thisisaprimeexampleofthe

deepinjusticesintheextractiveeconomy.

As detailed in this report, there are utilities that have managed to reform in such a way that provides

protections for low-income customers. Yet too many companies and their trade associations use their

influence on the Public Utilities Commissions and Public Service Commissions29to push back on the

protectionscommunitiesneed.30Wemustputpressureonutilitycompaniesthathaverefusedtoinnovate

despitethemodelsbeingoutthere foroperatingutilities inahumanewaythatmaintainsoperationsand

x

upholdhumanrights. Notonlydoweneedpro-peoplepoliciestoreformutilitycompanypractices inthe

shortterm,but inthe longtermweneedapeople ledmovementtoseizethereinsofourutilitiessector,

includingwater,anotheressentialresourcethatbefallsasimilarfateofbeingwithheldfromthosesuffering

fromextremepoverty.

TheNAACPisapartofbuildingtheneweconomythatputspowerinthehandsofthepeople,literallyand

figuratively.However,inthemeantime,wehavedevelopedthisstudythatchroniclesthebestandworstof

utilitypoliciesandpracticeswiththeaimofupliftingexamplesofthemosthumanepolicies,andprovidinga

blueprintforreformforthosewhocontinuetosacrificethelivesofvulnerablecommunitiesforprofit.We

areissuingacalltolegislators,regulators,utilitycompanies,researchers,andadvocatesforusalltostepup

our efforts in reformingwhatwehavenow, evenwhilewe as people’s advocates push for total-systems

change.Untilwe have transformed to the new, people led, economy,wemust all take responsibility for

pushingforthereformsthatprotectthelivesofthosewhoaremostvulnerable.Weparticularlyissueacall

toconsciencetothelegislators,regulators,andthecompaniesthathaveusedtheprofitsfromtheelectricity

andheatingbills thatwepayeveryday,tosuppresshumanrightsthroughanti-customerprotection,anti-

regulatory, anti-clean energy, anti-energy efficiency, anti-distributed generation lobbying while staunchly

maintainingpracticesthathavetakenlives.

Whilewe build a new economywith foundational principles of human rights, community ownership and

control,participatorydemocracy,andsharedwealthandwellness,throughthiseffort,theNAACP,itsunits,

anditspartnersandallieswillworktoensurethatutilities,regulators,andlegislatorsareheldaccountable

toexecutingpoliciesandpractices thatensurethatright tothecommons, resourcesessential for life,are

upheldforall!

1

LIGHTSOUTINTHECOLD:REFORMINGUTILITYSHUT-OFFPOLICIESASIFHUMANRIGHTSMATTER

2

INTRODUCTION

Disconnectionpolicies consistof the justifications,

procedures,andconsumerprotectionswithwhich

autilitymustcomplybeforeterminatingserviceto

a customer. Unfortunately, the interests of these

customers often compete with the interests of

other stakeholders.Thisposesanobstacle for the

design of appropriate disconnection policies that

recognize the necessity of utility services and the

rights of vulnerable customers. The need to

incorporate human rights into the utility business

modelisapparent.

Disconnection policies are implemented by

legislatures and regulators, and vary widely from

state to state. Some policies are protective of

consumers,whileotherslacksafeguards.Theright

to uninterrupted energy service must be

established and upheld for the protection of

human life. In the long term, the termination of

households from utility services must be

eliminated,intheinterim,itiscriticaltoensurethe

absolutehighestlevelofprotectionsforvulnerable

householdsfacingdisconnection.

This report discusses common disconnection

protectionsacrossalltypesofutilities,butfocuses

on those set for Investor-Owned Utilities (IOU's).

Issues with existing disconnection practices and

state level model policies are also explored.

Financial options are presented as a short-term

solution to reduce a household's risk of

disconnection, however, the report sets forth

broadprinciplesandspecificrecommendationsfor

stakeholders aswemove towards a shared vision

of an energy democracy. While the report

highlights disconnection practices mandated by

statelegislaturesandauthorizedregulatorybodies,

the issues and impacts outlined can, and have,

appliedtoPublicly-OwnedUtilities(POU's)aswell.

TYPESOFUTILITYCOMPANIES

InvestorOwnedUtilities(IOUs)

Investor-owned utilities are privately-owned, for-profitelectric utility whose stock is publicly traded. It is rateregulatedandauthorizedtoachieveanallowedrateofreturn.Traditionally, the investor-owned utilities own generation,transmission, and distribution assets. These utilities areregulated by state legislatures and the regulatory bodies towhich they delegate authority. Customer rates are set andregulated by the Public Utility Commission through publicprocessthatincludessomecustomerparticipation.

Publicly Owned Utilities (POUs)/Consumer owned utilities(COUs)

Publicly owned utilities are under public control andregulation.Theseutilitiesareorganizedinvariousforms,suchasmunicipalowned,ruralcooperatives,publicutilitydistricts.COUs have varied regulatory structures. Customer rates aresetbyeachutility'sgoverningbody-boardorcitycouncil inapublicforum.

Municipally owned: A municipally or city-owned utility is anon-profit electricityprovider that is ownedandoperatedbythe municipality it serves. Municipals may or may not havetheir own generation facilities. For municipals without theirown generation often develop a contract with anothercompanytogenerateelectricity.Sincethecustomersarelocal,themunicipals donot need to transmit electricity overhigh-voltage power lines. Generally, municipal-owned utilities arecontrolledbytheCityCounciloraspecialboardorcommittee.

RuralElectricCo-ops:RuralElectricCooperativesareoperatedby and for thepeopleof the community. TheElectric Co-opswere formed to bring electricity to rural households thatinvestor-owned utilities do not serve. They are divided intodistribution cooperatives or generation and transmissioncooperatives. Distribution co-ops provide end-users withelectricity. Generation and transmission co-ops are usuallyowned and managed by several distribution co-ops to sellwholesalepowertodistributionco-ops.Theconsumersoftheutility elect a board to manage and make decisions for theCooperative.

PublicUtilityDistricts(PUDs):PublicUtilityDistrictsareutility-only government agencies that provide things like electricity,naturalgas,sewagetreatment,wastecollection/management,telecommunications,orwater.Theutilitydistrictsarecreatedby the local government bodies. PUDs are regulated by aboard or commission that is elected by the voters of thatdistrict.

3

Nolongershouldthenarrativebe,poorpeoplemakingbadchoicesandpayingtheconsequencesfortheir

badchoices.Theprinciplesandactionspromotedby this reportapply toallutilities. It is time thatutility

companiesareheldaccountableforthelivesandfamiliesthattheyendanger,andthatwealltransitionto

themindset thataccess toenergyandutility services isahumanright.The right touninterruptedenergy

servicemustbeestablishedandupheldfortheprotectionofhumanlife.Inthelongterm,theterminationof

households from utility services must be eliminated, in the interim, it is critical to ensure the absolute

highestlevelofprotectionsforvulnerablehouseholdsfacingdisconnection.

THEHUMANCOSTOFUTILITYDISCONNECTION

“Thesecompaniesaregettingrichwhilewefreezetodeath.”

-Bernard,residentofDetroit,MI

Thefollowingisacollectionoftruestoriesaboutrealpeoplewhoseliveswerecutshort,ornearlycutshort,

byutilitycompanieswhowerewillingtopulltheplugtoprotectprofits.

THEPEOPLEOFDETROIT,MICHIGAN

“DTE[Energy]changesmyratespracticallyeverymonth.They’reconstantlytryingtosqueezeeverypennyoutofus.Ikeepmygasnearlyatzeroandtheyarestillchargingmeanarmandaleg.”

-Daryl,residentofDetroit,MI

In2010,utilityshutoffsbyDTEEnergyresultedinseveraldeadlyhousefiresinDetroitthatcausedseveral

deaths, including the deaths of two wheelchair-using brothers on Dexter Avenue and three children on

BangorStreet.Inresponse,DTEtriedtopreserveafavorableimagebymisdirectingattentionawayfromits

responsibilityforthetragedies,makinganoutcrytobring“energythieves”tojustice—unidentifiedpeople

who the company accused of illegally connecting houses to DTE power lines. With the support of the

Michiganstategovernment,DTEcalledforthearrestof“energythieves”andlaunchedaspyingcampaign

againstDetroitresidents,whichincludedtheuseofinvasiveaerialinfraredphotographytodeterminewhich

householdsstillhadheatafterhavingtheirpowerdisconnectedfornonpayment.

Meanwhile, DTE also launched a publicity campaign to promote its charity, the Heat andWarmth Fund

(THAW), as well as itsWinter Protection Plan (WPP) program. Not only do these programs protect only

seniors from utility shutoffs during the winter, but they also place families into payment plans that

essentiallykeeptheminastateofpermanentdebttothecompany.Inmanycases,familiescannotaffordto

stayontrackwiththepaymentplansthatareofferedandenduphavingtheirpowerdisconnectedanyway.

After visiting aDTEoffice tomakeapayment, aDetroit residentnamedBernard commented, “I came in

heretopay$236.Thatwastheminimumamounttheysaidwouldstopthemfromshuttingoffourutilities.

Theywantedmetopay$560,butIjustdon’thavethemoney.Peopleonmyblockareusingwhateverthey

have—spaceheaters, stovetops,anything theycan thinkof.Findinganalternativeway tokeepwarmhas

4

become necessary to survive. And you know the company ismaking goodmoney. These companies are

gettingrichwhilewefreezetodeath.”

AtthesameDTEoffice,aDetroitresidentandmotherofthreenamedTametriasaid,“Theysetmeupona

paymentplan,whereIwassupposedtopay$300everymonth. Ikeptupwithmostofthepayments,but

whenI lostmy job,theystillshutusoff. Ihavethreekids,andnowwe’vehadtomove inwithafriend. I

came in todayand they said Ihave topay$2,600 togetmyhouse turnedbackon. It’sunbelievable.We

can'tmovebackintoourhousebecausewecan’taffordthosethousandsofdollars.”31

ROBERTROBERTS–OVERLANDPARK,KANSAS

In2016,aseniorlivinginOverlandPark,KShadhiselectricityshutoffbyhisutilitycompanyeventhoughhe

neededanebulizerandoxygentobreathe.RobertA.Roberts,Sr.wasalreadystrugglingtopaymedicalbills

thatpiledupbecauseofhishealthproblems,includingmultiplesclerosisandchronicobstructivepulmonary

disease(COPD).

Aconcernedneighbor,RandenSmith,decidedtohelpMr.Robertsbypoweringhismedicalequipmentwith

anextensioncordthatwasconnectedtoMr.Smith’shome.KansasCityPower&Light(KCP&L)saiditwas

“unsafe”toprovideelectricitytoMr.RobertsthroughtheextensioncordandorderedMr.Smithtopullthe

plug,threateningtoalsoshutoffhispowerifherefused.Mr.SmithrefusedtostophelpingMr.Roberts.“I

don’twantsomeonedyingonmyhands,”Smithsaid.“MaybeKCP&Ldoesn’tmind,butitbothersmethat

someoneneedshelpandelectricityandoxygentolive,soI’mgoingtohelp.”

Mr.Robertshadbeen livingwithhissonandgrandchildren inOverlandParksince1989.32Thefamily lives

less than one mile away from an incinerator used to burn medical waste, which has been operated by

Shawnee Mission Medical Center since 2008.33The air pollution produced by incinerators is known to

contribute to the development of chronic diseases like COPD, as well as many other serious health

problems.

MARVINSCHUR–BAYCITY,MICHIGAN

In 2009, a 93-year-old man named Marvin Schur froze to death in his home after his utility company

restrictedhiselectricitybecauseofanunpaidbill. Theofficial causeofhisdeathwashypothermia,which

wasdeterminedbyamedical examinerwhocalled it “a slow,painfuldeath.”Mr. Schurowedmore than

$1,000and,asapenalty,theutilitycompanyinstalleda“limiter”torestricthisuseofelectricity,resultingin

hisdeath.

AutilitybillwasfoundonMr.Schur’skitchentablewithalargeamountofmoneyattachedtoit—asignthat

hewas trying to save up to pay his bill. The utility companywas owned by Bay City,Michigan. Bay City

managerRobertBellermanstatedthathedidnotbelievethecompanydidanythingwrong.34

JESSEWYANT–EUDORA,KANSAS

5

“That’spremeditatedmurder—ifyouknowapersonisonlife-sustainingoxygen,andyoupulltheplugandyoukillthem.”-Ms.Wyant,residentofEudora,KS

InEudora,KSin2011,BeverlyandJesseWyantwerenotifiedbythecitythattheirelectricitywouldbeshut

off if they did not pay their bill, even though Jesse, age 86, was terminally ill and needed an oxygen

concentratortosurvive.Thecouplewashavingdifficultymakingendsmeetafterafiredestroyedmuchof

their home. Since then, they struggled to pay for refurbishments andother expenses so they could cope

withthedamage.ThecityrefusedtowaitamerefivedaysforBeverly’sstatepensionpaymenttocomein;

instead,theysetupaturnofftime.Luckily,theirdaughtercouldpaythebillforthemtokeeptheelectricity

on,butmanyfamiliesarenotfortunateenoughtohavetheresourcestodothis.35

LESTERBERRY–DAYTON,TEXAS

Although Lester Berry, a 70-year-old resident of Liberty County, TX, was only $129.62 behind on his

electricitybill,hisutilitycompanycutoffhispower,resulting inhisdeath.Mr.Berryhadcongestiveheart

failureandCOPD,whichmeantthatheneededconstantpowertohisoxygenconcentratortosurvive.When

SamHoustonElectricCooperativedisconnectedhiselectricity,Mr.Berryverypainfullysuffocatedtodeath.

Mr.Berrywasfoundwithhishandinchesawayfromhisphone,whichneededelectricitytowork,leadinghis

son tobelieve thathe tried tocall forhelp justbeforehedied.Mr.Berry’s family said theelectricpower

providerwaswellinformedabouthisneedforelectricitytopowerhislife-sustainingmedicalequipment,so

theyhadnoreasontoassumehispowerwouldbedisconnectedfornonpaymentofamere$129.62.36

Dayton, TX,where Lester Berry died,was home to the Cedar Power Project,which operated three trash

burning incineratorsuntil2008.37Theairpollutionproducedby incinerators isknowntocontribute to the

developmentofchronicdiseaseslikeCOPD,aswellasmanyotherserioushealthproblems.

Theinstancesofcustomerendangermentillustratedintheabovestorieshighlighttheneedforchange.With

themyriadofprotections,programs,andpoliciesthatexistforutilitycustomersatriskofdisconnectiondue

to nonpayment there is no reason for undue suffering. In the interest of protecting the rights of utility

customers, it isnecessary tounderstandhowutilitiesprotectagainstdisconnectionsdue tononpayment,

andwherethereisopportunityforimprovement.

DISCONNECTIONPOLICIESANDTHEIRREGULATION

WHATISADISCONNECTIONPOLICY?

A “disconnection policy” describes the justifications, procedures, and consumer protectionswithwhich a

utilitymustcomplybeforeterminatingservicetoacustomer.Althoughautilitytypicallymaintainstheright

todisconnectacustomerforavarietyofreasons,thereareparticularconsiderationswithdisconnectionasa

result of nonpayment. 38Disconnection policies may be found in whole or in part in state statutes,

regulations, public utility commission orders, and utility tariffs, but are most frequently established in

6

regulations. 39 Regulators and other policymakers determine which elements to include or omit in

disconnection polices, leading some disconnection policies to be more protective of consumers than

others. 40 Some components that are commonly

foundindisconnectionpoliciesinclude:

1. Required notice to the customer that the

utilityintendstodisconnectservice;

2. Limitationsondisconnectionsduringcertain

timesofyearorinextremeweather;

3. Limitationsonthedayortimeofdaywhena

disconnectionmayoccur;

4. Protections for customers who have

disabilities,areelderly,orseriouslyill;and

5. The availability of payment plans for

customerswho have trouble affording their

bills.41

HOWAREDISCONNECTIONPOLICIES

REGULATED?

Unlike other businesses, public utilities are bound by the public's interest because they are “of public

consequence, and affect the community at large.”42Manypublic utilities are even grantedmonopolies in

exchange for what is supposed to be tight regulation in the public’s interest. It is within the powers of

legislatures to both regulate public utilities and definewhat itmeans for that utility to act in the public

interest.43Traditionally, this has meant the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the

public.44

Legislaturesdelegatetheirauthoritytodirectlyoverseepublicutilitiestoofficialswhoserveinpublicutility

commissionsorotherregulatoryagencies.45Despitethisdelegationofregulatoryauthority,thelegislatures

retaintherightandthedutytodefinethe“publicinterest”whichutilitiesmustadheretoandwhichutility

regulatorsmustprotect.46Legislaturesandregulatorsexercisebroadpoweroverpublicutilities,buttherole

ofregulatorsislimitedbythelegislature’sdefinitionofthepublicinterest.

Public utility commissions and legislatures are able to controlmarket entry for newutility providers, set

rates,setstandardsforthequalityandsafetyofservice,andpreventtheutilityfromtakingunduefinancial

risks.47While public utility commissions are free to regulate utilities in accordance to the public interest,

they may be limited in their ability to confront new challenges that fall outside of the scope of the

traditional public interest goals.48Among these challenges include climate change, rising energy costs, air

pollution,newtechnologies,andracialdiscrimination.49

Absentaclearpublic interestbasis totacklethesechallenges,commissionsmayenactregulationsthatgo

againsttheinterestsofcustomers.50Alternatively,thislackofclaritycouldcausecommissionstobeleeryof

taking action, or leave themunwilling to takeon challenges, even if theywouldbepermitted todo so.51

AdisconnectionnoticeSource:BenefitsLearningNetwork

7

Thus, it is importantfor legislaturestoprovideutilitycommissionswithaclearpublic interestmandateto

authorizeandencouragethecommissiontoregulateonemergentchallengesortopics.This lackofclarity

allowsforcontinuedviolationsofcustomers'rightsbypublicutilities.

Figure1.HowUtilityModelsareRegulated:TheTraditionalModel

COMPETINGINTERESTS

There aremultiple stakeholderswhomay have competing interests regarding disconnection policies that

mustbe consideredwhenendeavoring to reform theutility system to solve theproblems facedby those

whoexperienceutilitydisconnections.Figure2depictssomeofthestakeholderswhomayhaveaninterest

indisconnectionpolicies.52The interestof the followinggroupstypicallycome intoplay:utilitycustomers,

thoseatriskandnotatriskofdisconnection;utilitycompanies;andlegislatorsandregulators.Withineach

ofthesegroupsareindividualsthataredirectlyandindirectlyimpactedbyutilitydisconnectionsandother

actions.

CUSTOMERS

Consumers who are at risk of being disconnected have an interest in maintaining their service under

protectivedisconnectionpolicies.Incontrast,consumerswhoarenotatriskofbeingdisconnectedmaybe

askedtosubsidizethosecustomerswhoareunabletopay;therefore,theymaywantlessprotectivepolicies

to keep their own rates lower. This additional burden on customers in-good-standing is a form of cost

shifting—whenautilitychargehigherratesorotherfeesforservicestoonegroupthananotherlessreliable

Legislatures

PublicUqlityComissions

UqlityCompanies

Customers(RatePayers)

Legislaturesgiveregulatorybodies

authoritytoregulateutilitycompanies

Regulatorsexercisebroad

powersoverutility

companies,alongside

legislatures

HowUtilityCompaniesareRegulated

UtilityCompaniesoperateunderthe

regulationsandpoliciesofregulators

andlegislatures

8

group. Such cost shifting practices undermine the ability ofmore customers to pay their utility bills. Too

oftencostshiftingispracticedininstanceswhereautilityhastheabilityandcapacitytoabsorbthecostsof

customersatriskofnonpayment.53

Allutilitycustomershaveaninterestindisconnectionpolicies,asdisconnectionfromutilityservicesforany

reasondirectlyimpactscustomerwellbeingandsecurity.Oftenfamiliesareputatriskwhenutilityservices

aredenied.Inmoststates, lackofproperandsafeheatingandlightingsourcescanbeacatalystforsocial

serviceandchildprotectiveservicesinvestigations.Lackofproperheatingandlightingcanbedesignatedas

housingsafetyandphysicalenvironmenthazardsforchildren.54Thispotentialoftheseparationoffamilies

duetoutilityservicedisconnectionsisnotonlytraumatic,butfrequentlyhindershouseholdsfromseeking

helpwheninalreadyvulnerablepositions.55

UTILITIES

Utilitieshavean interest inearningaprofit,sotheymayprefera lessprotectivedisconnectionpolicythat

allows them to disconnect customers more quickly once an account becomes delinquent;56however,

utilities likelyalsowish toavoidputting their customersat risk,outofhumanitarianconcern,or, in some

cases,ifonlytosavethemselvesfromnegativepressandpublicperception.57

StakeholdersinPublicUtilityDisconnections

9

Figure2.Stakeholdersinutilitydisconnections

LEGISLATORSANDREGULATORS

Legislatorsandregulatorsshareintheinterestsofboththeutilitiesandtheconsumers,andtheymayhave

theirownpoliticalorprofessionalinterests,buttheyultimatelymustselectadisconnectionpolicythatwill

workbestforthepeopleintheirstateorjurisdiction.58Inthefaceofthesepotentiallycompetinginterests,

it is critical that regulators are engaged in determining how they can align the views of different

stakeholderstocreateeffectiveandsocially-consciousdisconnectionpolicy.

DISPROPORTIONATEENERGYBURDENS

"Somethinglikeelectricity,that'sreallyjustanessentialoflivinganormallife.”

-RudySylvan59

TherearemanyissueswiththewayutilitiesconstructandapplydisconnectionpoliciesintheUnitedStates.

Utility disconnections can have a discriminatory impact on low income people, people of color, elderly

people, people with special health needs, and other socially vulnerable utility customers who

disproportionatelyfacepotentialviolationsofhumanrights.Utilitycompanies,regulators,and legislatures

have developed suites of protections, which if implemented appropriately can remediate several critical

concernsforvulnerablepopulations.Theseconcernsinclude:

1. Customerswithlimitedincomebearadisproportionateburdenofenergybills;

2. Disconnectionshaveadisparateimpactonlowincomecommunitiesandcommunitiesofcolor;

3. Customersmaybereliantonutilityservicesformedicaldevicesandlife-supportingsystems;and

4. Vulnerablecustomers'useof

hazardous heating, cooling,

and lighting measures can

have harmful and even fatal

results.

ENERGY BURDEN ON LOW-

INCOMEHOUSEHOLDS

About 48% of American families

(approximately 59 million

households) have pre-tax annual

incomes of $50,000 or less, with an

average after-tax income among

these households of $22,732—less0

2.5

5

7.5

10

19,000 30,000 50,000 70,000 90,000 110,000 150,000

7.9

5.6

3.8

32.5 2.3

2

Percent of Income Spent on Energy Costs

Household Income (USD)

Perc

ent

Figure3.HouseholdEnergyBurdensbyhouseholdincome

10

than$1,900permonth.Sincefamiliesofcolorandseniorshavecomparativelylowermedianincomes,these

groups are among the people who aremost vulnerable to rising energy costs. “Median income” can be

consideredthemidpoint,whereone-halfofhouseholdshaveincomesabovethisamount,andone-halfhave

incomes below it. In 2015, the U.S. median household income was about $51,939. Table1 provides a

summaryofthemedianincomesofespeciallyvulnerablehouseholdscomparedtotheU.Smedian.60

Utility customers with limited income are at a higher risk of having their utilities disconnected due to

nonpayment. This isdue, inpart, to thenatureofutilitypayments. Utility costsoftenmakeupa larger

portion of expenses for households with limited extra income (Figure 3,61and these costs can change

throughouttheyearasincreasedheatingorcoolingisneeded.62Energycostsareconsumingasmuchofthe

incomesofAmerica’slower-andmiddle-incomefamiliesasthecostofotherbasicneeds,suchashousing,

foodandhealthcare.Additionally,householdswith limitedextra incomemaylive inolderhomesthatare

lessenergyefficient,andtheymaynothavethefinancialabilitytopayforefficiencyupgrades.63Customers

having troubleaffordingelectric servicemayalsobestruggling tomaintaincellphoneor internet service.

Many existing policies around disconnection procedures ignore this and provide notice solely through

electronicmeans.

Table1.MeanIncomeforVulnerableGroupsintheUnitedStatesvs.theNationalMedianIncome

HouseholdType PercentageofU.S.Households

MedianIncome AmountLowerthanU.S.MedianIncome

African-American 13% $45,186.93 -$6,752.07Latino/Hispanic 13% $45,186.93 -$6,752.07Age65+ 23% $39,993.03 -$11,945.97

Table2.UtilitydisconnectionsinCleveland,OH2014-2015

TotalServiceDisconnectionsforNonpaymentJun2014–May2015

ClevelandElectricIlluminatingCompany

14,594

ColumbiaGasofOhio 92,313DominionEastOhio 62,398OrwellNaturalGas $216

Total 169,521

TotalNumberofUnpaidBillsforDisconnectionsJun2014–May2015

ClevelandElectricIlluminatingCompany

$12,306,545

ColumbiaGasofOhio $62,593,567DominionEastOhio $63,585,403OrwellNaturalGas $86,447

Total $138,571,962

Table3.UnpaidbillsfordisconnectionsinCleveland,OH2014-2015

11

The cost of energy is not dramatically different for households that have significantly different incomes,

which increases the likelihood that customerswith little extra incomewill fall behindonutilitypayments

and risk disconnection due to nonpayment. Utility cost remain significantly unchanged over all income

groupsisbecause:64

1. Electricity and other utility services are a basic human need, not a luxury, making it relatively

inelastictoincomecomparedtoconsumergoods;

2. Even if low-income families do use less electricity, there is an energy efficiency gap, in terms of

housingandaccesstothepropertechnology;and

3. Asignificantportionofelectricitybillsarepaidviafixedcosts,whichmeansitdoesn’tmatterhow

muchelectricityyouuseordon’t.

In 2009, households with incomes of less than $20,000 spent an average of $1,571 on utilities while

households with incomes of $100,000–$119,999 spent an average of $2,572.65While these customers’

relativeincomesincreasedbymorethan500%,thepricetheypayforutilitiesincreasesbyonly163.7%.The

reasonslistedabovehavecontributedtothispattern.

Disconnections due to nonpayment occur in significant amounts, and are on the rise in some areas.66In

Ohio, four gas and electric companies serving the

Cleveland area reported 169,521 service disconnections

due to nonpayment during the twelve months between

June of 2014 and May of 2015 (Table 2). 67 These

disconnections equate to approximately $138,571,962 in

unpaid utility bills,which averages to just over $800 per

disconnection(Table3).68

PROFITEERINGOFUTILITYCOMPANIES

When considering that utility company executivesmakemillions of dollars in bonuses andpay increases,

annually,thatexceedtheamountofrevenuelosttononpaymentisafurthersignofinjustice.FirstEnergy,

the parent company of Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, made over $16 million in performance

bonusesaloneattheendof2016,morethanenoughtocoverthedebtofdisconnectedcustomersfromthe

previousyear(Table4).Disparitiessuchasthisarecommon,andevenmoredrasticinotherregionsofthe

U.S.AsshowninAppendixA,Ohio,aswellasmanyotherstates,haveelectricaffordability indexesabove

thenational average (2.5%). Tennessee, SouthCarolina,Mississippi,Alabama, andHawaii all haveenergy

affordability indexes equal to or more than 3.5%. In these states, the average customer faces a higher

energyburden.Aburden that isdeeply feltby low incomeand socially vulnerablepopulations. The stark

contrast between the amount of money utility companies spend on executive bonuses and unnecessary

infrastructure, illuminates the larger issue of profiteering within

theenergyindustry.

"Thecostbenefitanalysisofhowtheutilitybusinessmodelisstructuredaroundutilityshutoffsinthefaceofsuchwealthbuildingfocus

meansachoiceoflifeanddeathforsomeandthechoicebetweenaPorscheandanAudifor

others.''

-JacquelinePatterson,Director,NAACP

EnvironmentalandClimateJusticeProgram

12

Detroit,MIResidencesintheDTEServiceTerritorySource:FireplaceChats

DTEHeadquartersinDetroit,MISource:U.S.DepartmentofEnergy

13

Table4.FirstEnergyExecutiveCompensationFY2015-2016

DISPARATEIMPACTONLOWINCOMECOMMUNITIESANDCOMMUNITIESOFCOLOR

African Americans spend a significantly higher amount of their total incomes on energy—including

electricity, heating, fuel, and the energy used to produce, package, transport and sell goods—than the

general U.S. population, except in higher income groups. The American Association of Blacks in Energy

arguesthatthisoccursfortworeasons:69

1. African Americans are more than twice as likely to live in

povertyasnon-AfricanAmericans.Lowincomehouseholdspaysimilar

amountsforelectricityandheatingashighincomehouseholds;and

2. AfricanAmericansspendasignificantlyhigherfractionoftheir

household income on electricity and heating than non-African

Americans who spend more on energy used in the production and

consumptionofgoods.

In general, low income populationsspendasignificantly

higher fraction of expenditures on energy purchases than the

middle-class and the wealthy: 13% of expenditures in the

lowest income groups as opposedtojust5%ofhousehold

income in the highest income groups.70The higher percentage

oflowincomeAfricanAmericans exacerbates the vulnerability of

African Americans to high energy prices and in turn utility

disconnections. This helps explain why increases in energy

pricesarelikelytonegativelyimpactAfricanAmericansmoresignificantlythanthegeneralpopulation.71In

addition to the economic burden of high prices, to the extent that low income customers, low income

AfricanAmericans customers inparticular, choose to forgoor trade-off energyusewithothernecessities

such as food and health care, high energy prices can represent a significant health hazard.72The choice

ClevelandElectricIlluminatingCompany(FirstEnergy)2015-2016

Executive BaseSalary TotalCompensation PayIncrease

1 $1,118,558.00 $4,238,701.00 $3,120,143.00

2 $636,154.00 $2,339,431.00 $1,703,277.00

3 $510,231.00 $7,054,125.00 $6,543,894.00

4 $752,789.00 $3,004,793.00 $2,252,004.00

5 $599,176.00 $2,135,552.00 $1,536,376.00

6 $552,404.00 $2,017,272.00 $1,464,868.00

Total $4,169,312.00 $20,789,874.00 $16,620,562.00

14

between utility services and other necessities is not an easy choice. In a 2011 survey, lower-income

householdsreportedthefollowingreactionstohighenergybills:

• 24%wentwithoutfoodforatleastoneday;• 37%wentwithoutmedicalordentalcare;• 34%didnotfillaprescriptionortooklessthanthefulldose;and.• 19%hadsomeonebecomesickbecausetheirhomewastoocold.73

Whilehavinglimitedextraincomeputsindividualsathigherriskforbeingdisconnectedduetononpayment,

acustomer’sracemayalsoinfluencehowlikelyanindividualistobedisconnectedfromutilityservice.Data

from the2009United States Energy InformationAdministration’sResidential EnergyConsumption Survey

indicates that even among financially similar customers, African Americans experienced disconnections

more frequently.74Amongallhouseholdsatorbelow150%of the federalpoverty level,11.3%ofAfrican

Americanheadedhouseholdswere shut off in contrast to 5.5%of Caucasianheadedhouseholds.75While

every region of theUnited States reflected this disparity, itwasmost prominent in the southern region,

where 16% of African American headed households at or below 150% of the poverty level were

disconnected compared to approximately 6% of Caucasian headed households.76In this case, intentional

discrimination can be difficult to prove without

concretedataandresearchofthedifferencesbetween

groups in the prioritization of energy bills over other

expenses. These disparities may be the result of

institutional racism; uneven levels of consumer

education; differences in savings, available income, or

outsideassistance;andgeographicdensityofcustomers

basedonrace.77

USEOFHAZARDOUSHEATINGMETHODS

Despite the significant costs of utilities on customers

with limited extra income, the use of utility services

remainsnecessary.Heatingandcoolinghomesaccounts

for 47.7% of all residential energy consumption, with

41.5% of all residential consumption going solely to

heating.78Customersusemoreenergyinmonthswhen

heating is necessary, and customers with little extra

incomemay be especially vulnerable to disconnection

duringthesemorecostlymonths.79Forcustomerswho

live in colder climates, or who experience unusually

extreme weather, the consequences of being

disconnected throughout the winter months are

potentiallysevere.

“Regardlessofwhetherit’sshutofforsimplythatbillsaresohighthatpeoplevoluntarilylimitusage,severalthingshappen.Peopleusespaceheaters,kerosene

heaters,thatincreaseriskoffireandcarbonmonoxidepoisoning.Andpeoplelimituseofelectricity.Theylightthehomewithcandles,whichareoftentoocloseto

somethingcombustible.”

-DavidFoxoftheNationalLow-IncomeEnergy

Consortium(NLIEC)

AfamilysitsandwaitsasemergencyrespondentsextinguishtheflamesSource:DenverPost

15

Customerstakeriskswhentheyturntoalternativeheatingorlightsources,suchasspaceheaters,candles

orgenerators,whichcancausefiresoremittoxiccarbonmonoxide.80Asnoted,therehavebeenpublicized

deaths that resulted from thedisconnectionof aheat-utilityduring thewintermonths. According to theNationalFireProtectionAssociation,whileonly32percentofhomeheating fires involvespaceheaters,heatersareinvolvedin79percentofhomeheatingfiredeaths.81Customersfaceadditionalhealthhazards

throughout the year particularly when they are left without air conditioning in extreme heat, andwhen

electricityisdisconnectedfromcustomerswhorelyontheservicetopowertheirmedicaldevices.82

TYPESOFDISCONNECTIONPOLICIES

Thepoliciesandprotectionsoutlinedinthissectionarecommonamongalltypesofutilitycompanies.But

theseareparticularlymeasuresoutlinedbystate legislaturesandauthorizedregulatorybodies (i.e.Public

Utility Commissions, Public Service Commissions, and other bodies) for the regulation of IOUs. Many of

theseprotectionsarealsousedby

Publically-Owned Utilities (POUS)

and Customer Owned Utilities

(COUs).


ANDCONSIDERATIONS

Procedural protections that are

commonly included in

disconnection policies include

adequate notice prior to

disconnectionoftheutilityservice

and limitations on when

disconnections may occur. An

additionalproceduraloptionoftenusedbystatesistheimpositionoffeesfordisconnectingorreconnecting

autilityservicetoacustomer.Utilityservicescanbedisconnectedandreconnectedinpersonandremotely,

depending on the type of meter or infrastructure onsite. Producers for in person or automated

disconnectionandreconnectionshavevaryingpolicies inseveralstates.This includesdifferences innotice

andassociatedfees.

Notice:Isaconstitutionallyassuredproceduralrightthatmustbegiventoallcustomersbeforetermination

of utility service.83In addition to being constitutionally required, providing a robust notice to customers

ensures that customers are aware that they are delinquent in their payments. This not only protects the

customer from being disconnected, but it alerts customers of their duty to pay for the utility service.

Thoughaminimumlevelofnoticeisrequiredbeforeanyutilitymaybedisconnectedfornonpayment,the

lengthofnoticeandnoticeproceduresvarywidely indifferentstates.Typically,noticeisgivenbymail,by

postingofthenoticeatthecustomer’shome,bydeliverytothecustomer,byphone,or,inlimitedstates,by

email.84Somestatesrequirethatnoticebeprovidedinmultiplelanguages.85

Louisville,KYNovember15,2016:HouseFirecausedusingspaceheaterSource:WLKY,Kentucky

16

LimitationsonDisconnection:Manystateschoosetolimitthedaysandtimeswhenutilitiesmaydisconnect

acustomerfromservice.Enactingtheselimitationsoftenprotectscustomersfrombeingdisconnectedata

timewhentheywouldbeunabletoquicklyremedythedisconnection.Moststateswill,atminimum,limit

disconnections to business hours on dayswhen the utility is open and available to receive a customer’s

payment.86Somestatesoffermorecustomerprotectionbyallowingdisconnectiononlyduringlimitedhours

of the business day. If a state requires personal notice before a disconnection, the state may be more

lenientwiththehoursanddaysonwhichadisconnectionmaytakeplace.

Disconnection and Reconnection Fees: Almost every state explicitly authorizes reconnection fees. 87

Reconnectionfeesareauthorizedtoallowautilitytocollectadditionalpayment

for the acts of disconnection and reconnection, and the provision of other

customer service interactions with the customer prior to the disconnection.

Reconnection fees are often adopted as a deterrent for customer to reach

disconnected status.88Other states are more protective of certain customers,

such as the elderly or low-income customers for

whom a fee would prevent reconnection. 89 Some

states also authorize the collection of a fee for

disconnection.90Thefeeamountsandproceduresfor

disconnection and reconnection vary among states.

The Public Utility Commission, of Ohio provides a

Winter Reconnect Order for residential customers

underthethreatofdisconnectionorwhohavebeen

disconnected to file for have their service

reconnected or maintained for the winter months.

Customers filing an order must pay a $175 fee to

retain service and an additional reconnection fee of

$36 to reconnect service. 91 Some states, including

Arkansas,donotchargedisconnectionfees,butmaystillallowforutilitiestochargereconnectionfees.92

In most cases disconnection and reconnection fees are still applied for remote disconnections and

reconnections—remote connections can be made simply by flipping a switch. Disconnection and

reconnection feesareanotherobstacle for customersat riskofdisconnection,aswellas thosewhohave

already been disconnected.Utility companies that offer these fees as disincentives for customers do not

recognizethatdisconnectionsthemselvesaredisincentivesformostcustomers.Theseadministrativepolices

donothelpanycustomer,butfurtherendangercustomerwell-being.

Deposits andGuarantees: Insomestates,newutilitycustomersorcustomerswithpoorpaymenthistory,

utilitycompaniescanrequirepaymentofadepositorthesubmissionofaletterofguaranteefromathird

partyabletopayinlieuofthecustomer.ManyPCU'sandotherutilityregulatorybodiessetminimumsand

maximumsondepositamountsandprescribepaymentinstallmentprogramsforpayingdepositsmorethan

asetamount.93Depositsareoftenrequiredontopofreconnectionfeesandarrears.94Depositamountsvary

fromstatetostateandhavebeenreportedinexcessof$150.95

Housefirescanstartfromevenalitcandlewhenusedforheatingandlightinahome

17

SEASONALPROTECTIONS

Seasonal protections are included in the

disconnection policies of many states. Seasonal

protections are generally date-based, temperature-

based,orincludeacombinationofbothprotections.

Most seasonal protection policies apply to winter

monthsorcoldtemperatures,butsomealsoapplyto

summer months and extreme heat. Seasonal

protections are usually implemented to protect

customers from the health risks associated with

having a utility disconnected during periods that

couldbeespeciallydangeroustohealth.

Date-Based Protections: These protections set

specific dates of when customers cannot, without

duediligence,bedisconnectedfromautilityservice.Datestypicallyspanthelatefalltoearlyspringmonths,

whentemperaturesareattheirlowest.Thoughlesscommon,somestatesimplementdate-basedprotection

periodsforthesummermonthsaswell.96

Temperature-Based Protections: Many states have a temperature-based protection plan to protect

customers from extreme cold weather. These protections acknowledge the dangers that customers face

when they are disconnected from a utility thatmay be providing themwith heat during periods of cold

weather.

PAYMENTASSISTANCE

Many states require utilities to offer payment

plans that may allow a customer to avoid

disconnectionortomoreeasilyaffordtheirbills

throughout the course of the year. These plans

can take many forms. One common option

allows for all customers to enter a “budget

billing” or “leveled plan.” These plans are

typicallyavailabletoanyeligiblecustomer,anditallowsacustomertodivideayearlybillevenlyovertwelve

months.97A second common option is offered only to customers who are at risk of having their utility

disconnected. These customers are given a chance to pay the amount due in portions rather than all at

once, which allows a customer to expedite reconnection to the utility service.98Payment plans are also

frequentlyrequiredtoavoiddisconnectionduringseasonalprotectiveperiods.99


"[S]omeenergycompanieswillofferthebareminimuminassistance.Manyapplicationassistancelocationsareinaccessibletodisadvantagedpopulations...[P]rogram

applicationsrequiremultiplesourcesofdocumentsandaresolengthy,complexandintrusivethatneedyapplicantsare

discouragedfromcompletingthem.Theprocessofapplyingforenergybillpaymentassistanceshouldnotcauseadded

humiliation."

-KatherineEgland,Member,NationalNAACPBoardofDirectors

ResidentrevealstheducttapedwindowsinherClaremontHousesapartmentintheBronx,NY.Source:DavidWexler,NewYorkDailyNews

18

Most states offer protection for groups that may be considered especially vulnerable to the risks and

hazards associated with utility disconnections. Traditionally, this category includes protection for people

who are elderly, peoplewith special health conditions, and individualswith disabilities.Most states only

requireutilitiestoofferprotectionstosociallyvulnerablecustomerswhoregisterwiththeutility;however,

forsomeofthesegroups,registrationmaybeabarrierthatpreventsthemfrombeingprotectedunderthe

applicablelaws.

STATEDISCONNECTIONPROTECTIONPOLICIES

Disconnectionprotectionsvarysignificantlybystate.Thecombinationofprotectionsprovidedbyutilitiesis

ideallyfittothecontextofthatstateanditsdefinitionofpublicinterest,however,theseconsiderationsdo

not result in adequate protections in all cases. To truly uphold human rights, in the public interest, the

ultimate aim is to eliminate disconnections altogether and, pending broader system reform, ensure the

absolutehighestlevelofprotectionforvulnerablehouseholdsfacingdisconnection.Table5illustrateshow

differentprotectionpoliciesandprescriptionsarestatebystate.

Table 6 indicates the general utility disconnection policies for each state. Most states require utility

companiestoprovideawritten,phone,orpersonallydeliverednoticebeforeadisconnection.Datebased

protectionstakeplaceduringthecoldermonths,usuallybetweenthemonthsofNovemberandMarchor

April.Temperatureprotectionsarebasedonvariousrangesofhotandcoldtemperaturesthatcouldplace

residents indanger.Mostofthestateswillnotdisconnectwhentemperaturesbelow32°Forabove95°F,

but the offering of this protection varies by state.Most the states offer a payment plan option to avoid

disconnectionsandchargea feetoreconnecttoutilityservices.Medicalprotectionsaregenerallyoffered

fordisabledorelderlycustomers.Generally,amedicalcertificate is required topostponeadisconnection

for various amounts of time. There is a wide range of disconnection limitations. Some states will not

disconnectduringcertainhoursofdaysoftheweek,whileotherstateswillnotdisconnectbeforeorduring

aholiday.AdetailedcompilationofutilitydisconnectionprotectionscanbefoundinAppendixB.

MODELSTATEPOLICIES

Thefollowingpolicesarekeyexamplesofwhatutilitiescandotoprovidemoreprotectivedisconnection

polices.Thesepoliciesrepresentasteptowardamorehumanrightsbasedutilitystructure.

NOTICE

• InOregon,autilitymustprovideawrittennoticebymailordeliveryatleastfifteendaysbeforethe

scheduleddisconnection.100Asecondnoticemustthenbemailedordeliveredfivedaysbeforethe

scheduleddisconnection.101Theutilitymust attempt tomakepersonal contactwith the customer

immediately before the disconnection, and if this attempt is unsuccessful, the utilitymust post a

notice at the customer’s residence.102Additionally, Oregon requires special notice protections

followingadisconnectionwhenautilityisabletodisconnectacustomerremotelywithoutmaking

personalcontact.103

• Some states require that noticebeprovided inmultiple languages, as in Coloradowhere a utility

mustprovidenoticeinEnglishand“languagesotherthanEnglishwheretheutility'sserviceterritory

19

containsapopulationofat least tenpercentwhospeaka specific languageother thanEnglishas

theirprimarylanguageasdeterminedbythelatestU.S.Censusinformation.”104

LIMITATIONSONDISCONNECTION

• In Iowa, a customermayonly bedisconnectedbetween thehoursof 6:00amand2:00pm,which

ensuresthatacustomerhasanopportunitytobereconnectedthesamedaythatthedisconnection

takesplace.105

• Moststatesprovideavenuesforrenterstoaddresssituationswherelandlordsfailtopayutilitybills.

In these instances, ifa landlord fails toprovideautility, theycanbeheld inviolationofstateand

local housing codes and penalized. Many states have provisions which provide tenants with

remediesagainstutilitydisconnectionsincluding:transferringofrentalpropertiestotenantcontrol;

paying utility bills in place of landlords and deducting the amount from rent payments; and/or

avenuesforlegalactionandcourtinvolvement.106

DISCONNECTIONANDRECONNECTIONFEES

• Arkansasdoesnotchargedisconnectionfeesforwater,gas,orelectricutilities.107

SEASONALPROTECTIONS

• Rhode Island has one of the most protective date-based winter seasonal protection plans. The

regulationwas recently passed, andbecameeffective onNovember 2, 2016.108During theperiod

fromNovember1–April15,utilitiesareseverelyrestrictedintheirabilitytodisconnectacustomer

for nonpayment. Customers who use a utility for their primary heating service may not be

terminated unless they have arrearages greater than $500. 109 While customers who have

delinquenciesgreaterthanthisamountmaybedisconnected,theutilitymust first fileanaffidavit

with the state’s Division of Public Utilities and Carriers at least forty-eight hours before the

scheduled disconnection. 110 Additionally, there are no disconnections

allowedforanycustomerwhohasaprotectedstatuswiththeutility.111

• InPennsylvania,utilitiesarerequiredtodistributeasurveyinpreparation

for the winter protection period.112 The purpose of the survey is to

connectutilitieswiththecustomerswhohavebeendisconnectedpriorto

thewinterprotectionperiod. Utilitiesareencouraged toenterpayment

agreementswith these customers so that theymaybe

reconnectedbeforethewinterperiodbegins.113

PAYMENTASSISTANCE

• Rhode Island'sHenry SheltonActof2011 (amended in

2016)establishesanarrearageforgivenessprogramfor

customers eligible for Low Income Home Energy

AssistanceProgram(LIHEAP)whohavehadtheirutility

services disconnected for non-payment or who have

been scheduled for disconnection. Participating

customershaveone-twelfthoftheirarrearageforgivenSmall children, the elderly, and those with medicalconditions and disabilities are particularly vulnerable toexposuretoextremeweather(Child)Source:OlkbridgeFamily(Woman)Source:PersimmonHollow

20

foreverymonthofsuccessfulpayment, forupto$1,500of forgiveness inayear.114Thissystemis

basedonasimilarmodelinMassachusetts.115


• Massachusetts offers expansive protection for individuals who are seriously ill, elderly, and have

disabilities, but the state also requires that utilities take steps to protect young children.116 No

disconnections are allowed for householdswith childrenunder twelve-months, or for households

wheretheonlyresidentsareagedsixty-fiveorolderandminorchildren.117 • To combat barriers to registration for protection programs, North Dakota implemented a utility

surveythatmustbedistributedtoallnewcustomersandallcurrentcustomersonanannualbasis.

Thissurveyquestionsallcustomersaboutanymembersofthehouseholdwhoqualifyforprotection

duetoage,illness,ordisability.118

Table5.SurveyofStateutilitycustomerdisconnectionprotectionsState ProceduralProtections SeasonalProtections PaymentAssistance ProtectionsforVulnerable

GroupsAlabama Providecustomerswitha

writtennoticefivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnectionRequiresareconnectioncharge

Whenthetemperatureisforecastedtobe32oForbelowforthatcalendarday,theutilitycannotbedisconnected

Theutilitydoesnothaveapaymentplanoptionand

Specialconsiderationbasedonage,disability,medicalconditionsorothercircumstancesisgranted,butnotrequired

Alaska Customersreceiveaninitialnoticefifteendaysbeforescheduleddisconnection,andasecondnoticeisprovidedinperson,bytelephoneorbypostingthreedaysbeforeadisconnectionDisconnectionscanoccurMonday-Thursdaybetween8:00am-5:00pm

Doesnotrequireseasonalprotections

Deferredpaymentagreementwiththeutilitytopaytheiroutstandingbalanceininstallmentsoveraperiodnottoexceed12months

Acustomer,whoiselderly,ill,dependentonlifesupportsystems,ordisabled,canhavetheirdisconnectionpostponedforfifteendays

Arkansas Initialnoticetobemailedeightdaysordeliveredfivedaysbeforethedisconnection,DisconnectionscanonlyoccurduringnormalbusinesshoursNoreconnectioncharges

DisconnectionsarenotpermittedbetweenNovember1-March31Gasutilitiesmaynotdisconnectforlow-incomecustomersWhenthetemperatureis95°forabove,disconnectionsarenotallowedforelderlyordisabledcustomers

Offerpaymentplansforcustomers,whoqualifyaslow-income,duringwinterprotectionperiod

Customers,whoareelderlyorhavedisabilities,musthavetwonoticeattemptsatleast72hoursbeforeshutoff

Kansas Writtennoticetobesenttendaysbeforescheduleddisconnectionandtheutilitymustcalltwotimesatleasttwodaysbeforedisconnection

DisconnectionsarenotpermittedbetweenNovember1-March31Iftemperaturedropsbelow35°Finthefollowing48-hourperiod,disconnectionsarenotpermitted

Customersmustenterintonegotiatedpaymentplan,pay1/12ofarrearage,1/12ofcurrentbillanddisconnection,reconnectionanddepositifapplicableandapplyforenergyassistancefundstoavoiddisconnection

Customerswithamedicalcertificationmustalsoprovideproofofinabilitytopaythebillinfull

Tennessee RequiresonlyareasonablenoticetobeprovidedDoesnotspecifyaperiodfordisconnections

Doesnotofferdatebasedortemperaturebasedprotection

Offerspaymentplansforcustomers

Athirtydaydisconnectdelaycanbegrantedifphysician,publichealthofficialorsocialserviceofficialcertifiesthatahouseholdmember'shealthwouldbeadverselyaffected

21

Table6.DisconnectionProtectionPolicesintheUnitedStates

State Notice

Date

Based

Protectio

n

Temp.

Based

Protectio

n

Payment

Plans

Reconnection

Fee

Medical

Protections

Disconnectio

n

Limitations

Alabama X X X X Alaska X X X XArizona X X X Arkansas X X X X XCalifornia X X Colorado X Connecticut X X X X Delaware X X X X X XD.C. X X X X XFlorida X X XGeorgia X X X X X X XHawaii X X XIdaho X X X X XIllinois X X X X X XIndiana X X X X X Iowa X X X X X XKansas X X X X X X Kentucky X X X XLouisiana X X X X X X XMaine X X X X X XMaryland X X X X X XMassachusetts X X X X XMichigan X X X X X XMinnesota X X X X X X XMississippi X X X X X X Missouri X X X X X X Montana X X X X X XNebraska X X X X X XNevada X X X X X XNewHampshire X X X X X XNewJersey X X X X X NewMexico X X X X X XNewYork X X X X XNorthCarolina

X X X X X

NorthDakota X X X XOhio X X X X X XOklahoma X X X X X X XOregon X X X X Pennsylvania X X X X X XRhodeIsland X X X X X XSouthCarolina

X X X X X X

SouthDakota X X X X XTennessee X X X Texas X X X X X XUtah X X X X X XVermont X X X X X X XVirginia X X X XWashington X X X X X XWestVirginia X X X X X XWisconsin X X X X X X XWyoming X X X X X X X

22

23

FINANCINGTOREDUCEANDELIMINATEDISCONNECTIONS

There are financingmodels that can help reduce the burden of utility costs on at-risk customers. These

optionsareonlystepstowardabroadervision.Itbaresemphasisthattheinjusticesofmanyutilitypractices

arefundamentalwrongdoingsthatcontributetothecreationandcontinuationofpoverty.Thebigpictureis

economic justice and equity, virtues that are thwarted by current utility business models regardless of

strategies to reduce household energy burdens. Bill assistance programs, energy efficiency and

weatherizationprograms,andinclusivefinancingmodelsareresourcesthatcanandshouldbeusedinthe

shorttermtopreventandreducetheriskofutilitydisconnection.Theseapproachesareband-aidsapplied

to the symptoms of deep systemic roots of poverty. While they are positive and useful models and

resources,theyaremerelyasteptowardtheideal.

BILLASSISTANCEPROGRAMS

Bill assistance programs provide financial assistance for households to pay their immediate home energy

bills.Therearemanyfederallyfundedbillassistanceprograms,themainprogramsincludethe:LowIncome

Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the primary federal bill assistance program; Emergency Food

and Shelter Program (EFSP), funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and Residential

Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), providedby theU.S.DepartmentofHousingandCommunity

Development. Federal Bill

assistance programs, as well

as those operated by non-

profits, often have social

serviceandcasemanagement

resourcesforhouseholds.

LIHEAP provides funding to

states, which is then

distributed to qualified

households. The funds

dispersed by states can be

directbillassistance(themajorityoffunds),crisisassistance,supportforweatherizationprograms,orother

forms of aid to reduce household energy needs. Across most states, household eligibility is established

between150%and110%of the federalpoverty line,or60%of the statemedian income.119Theprogram

also provides direct payments to tenants, who meet income eligibility requirement for fuel assistance,

whoseheatisincludedintherent.120

EFSPgrantsareallocatedatthecountyandregionallevels.EFSPtendstopaysforonlyonemonth’sutility

billandrequiresthatthehouseholdhasreceivedashut-offnotice. Inmanystates, thesameagencythat

processes LIHEAP applications also administers EFSP funds. The Department of Housing and Community

Development'sRAFTprogramprovidessubstantialhelpwithutilityandheatingbills.Unlikeotherfederalbill

assistance programs, RAFT's requirements and regulations tend to changewith each fiscal year.Often to

qualifyforRAFTassistance,householdsmusthaveatleastonedependentchildundertheageof21andat

BillassistanceprogramsareoftenthefirstsolutionatriskcustomersusetoavoidutilitydisconnectionsSource:LaCasaDeDonPedro

24

risk of homelessness. Utility bill paymentswill bemade only as part of family re-housing or stabilization

plans.RAFTfundsareadministeredbyregionalnon-profitagencies.121

Althoughmanybillassistanceprogramsexist,thereisstilllimitedfederalfundingavailableinmoststatesfor

low-incomeresidents,andsomefundingisavailablefromutilitiesinsomestates.Manystateprogramsalso

havetroublereachingtheirtargetpopulations.Eveninstateswithmoresuccessfulbillassistanceprograms

(e.g. California,NewYork, Illinois, etc.), only about 1%of the eligible population are reached annually.122

Althoughmanyhouseholdsreceiveassistanceandcanavoiddisconnectionthroughbillassistanceprograms,

theyarenotaneffectivelongtermsolution.

WEATHERIZATIONANDENERGYEFFICIENCYPROGRAMS

Through upgrading the efficiency of homes, households can reduce the burden of their energy bills.

Programs that focus on weatherization and energy efficiencyfund longer term solutions to household

energy burdensby cutting wastedenergy, improving comfort, and lowering costs.123Weatherization and

energy efficiency retrofits are multi-benefit approaches to alleviating many consequences of living in

poverty.Whendoneholistically, the infrastructureandventilation improvementsanduseenergyefficient

appliances that characterize these programs can save a household from undue energy burdens and

environmental health hazards. 124 Low income households, the same that are most at risk of utility

disconnections, aremoreoften living in sickbuildings,homes, andcommunitieswithpoorenvironmental

healthconditions.125

Weatherizationprogramsinstallenergyefficiencyupgradesaimedatimprovingthephysicalspacebetween

theinteriorandexteriorofabuilding,suchasweather-strippingdoorsandwindows,airsealing(asseenin

the picture above), and installing insulation. Weatherization programs also fund upgrades or repairs to

heatingandcoolingsystems.126Themost

effective weatherization and energy

efficiency programs address the largest

household energy uses with the longest

sustained savings (e.g. heating and

cooling), which often have the greatest

impactonreducingenergyburdens.127

Unlike bill assistance and most

weatherization programs, utility energy

efficiencyprogramscanincludeavarietyof

program strategies. Some utility energy efficiency programs operate in tandem with local or statewide

weatherization efforts, using similar channels to reach customers. Themost common low-income energy

efficiencyapproachesarewhole-buildingweatherization,andthe installationof low-costenergyefficiency

measures (e.g., efficient lighting, high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators, and air infiltration

reductions). Someutilitiesoperatedirect-install programs targetingmultifamily rentalbuildingsaspartof

their low-income program offerings.128 Building upgrades through weatherization and energy efficiency

programsaretheprimarywayofreducingthelikelihoodofnon-paymentthatmosthouseholdscanemploy.

WeatherizationofhomesiseasyandeffectivewaytoreduceenergyuseSource:HabitatforHumanity,PrinceWilliamCounty,VA

25

Reductions in energy bills often equal reductions in the risk of disconnection.Even still, investment in

energyefficiencyandweatherizationprogramsisanunderutilizedstrategy.129

INCLUSIVEFINANCINGMODELS

Programs that help utility customers pursue home improvements can reduce monthly utility bills. With

energy efficiencymeasures alone, customers are predicted to save $2 trillionby 2030.Inclusive financing

programsuse a utility tariff rather than a loan to finance cost effective energyupgrades, and theybreak

downthebarrierstoaccesssothatthesesavingscanberealized.130Thesemodelsareprovidinganavenue

foraccessforutilitycustomerswhomaynotqualifyfordirectinstallprogramsforlow-incomecustomersyet

stillstruggletomakeendsmeetandkeepthelightson.

Utilitiesthatofferinclusivefinancingcanremovemajorbarrierstoenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergy

developmentbyallowingcustomers toopt intoa tariff thatauthorizes theutility (1) tomakesite-specific

investments incosteffectiveenergyupgradesand (2) to recover itscostswithachargeonthebill that is

significantlylessthantheestimatedsavings.Whereinclusivefinancingprogramsexists,theyareopentoall

utility customers regardless of their income, credit score, or renter status.131Figures 4 and 5, from the

InstituteforLocalSelf-Reliance'sEnergyDemocracyInitiative,illustratesthehowinclusivefinancingworksin

the utility space. Utilities provide contractors with the upfront funding for onsite energy efficiency,

weatherization,andrenewableenergyprojects.Theresultingsavingsfromthoseprojectsismorethanthe

costsaddedtotheutilitybillaspaymentfortheproject installationandinfrastructure.Theresult is lower

monthlyutilitybills.Noutilityoffering inclusive financingbasedon thePaysAsYouSave®(PAYS®) system

hasreportedasingledisconnectionfornon-paymentamongprogramparticipants.

Many utility cooperatives have seen inclusive financing models work. At Roanoke Electric,a utility

cooperative in a persistent poverty areaof North Carolina,theUpgrade to $ave program has invested in

upgradesatmorethan300homes.Theestimatedaveragemonthlynetsavingsforparticipatingcustomers

Figure4.InclusiveFinancingModel,Source:LocalSelf-ResilienceEnergyDemocracyInitiative

26

isaround $50, as they pay themonthly program service charge that is capped at 75% of the estimated

savings-sothecustomernetsavingsfromthebeginning.132Withthesesavings,inclusivefinancingmodels

have the express potential to reduce and eliminate utility disconnections and provide critical services to

vulnerablepopulations.

Figure5.Simpleoverviewofhowinclusivefinancingworks

THENEEDFORUNITERRUPTEDSERVICE

"Whatkindofworlddoweliveinwherechildrencandieafierydeathandthereisnomassiveoutcry?...Wecalloneveryoneopposedtothisconstantinhumanityagainstpoorpeopletojoinus...anddemandanimmediate

moratoriumongasandlightshutoffs,"

-MaureenTaylor,StateChairperson,MichiganWelfareRightsOrganization

The establishment of a universal right to uninterrupted energy servicewouldensure thatprovisionsare inplace topreventutilitydisconnection

due to non-payment and arrearages.133Toward establishing such a right,

we call for all utility companies to advocate for and incorporate the

following foundational principles into their models, operations, and

policies:

1. SecureACCESStoutilityservicesforallhouseholds;2. INCLUSION of all customers in thedevelopmentofutilitypolicies

andregulations;

3. TRANSPARENCY of the actions of and information held by utility

companies, regulating bodies, legislatures, and utility affiliated

organizations;

4. PROTECTIONofthehumanandcivilrightsofallcustomers;and

5. Advance programs that help ELIMINATE POVERTY, so that allcustomerscanpayutilitybills.

MaureenTayloroftheMichiganWelfareRightOrganizationSource:WileyPrice

27

Thepoliciesandprotectionsdetailedinthisreportrepresentstop-gapmeasurestolessenharmswroughtby

a system that is predicated on amassing profits without regard to the impacts on people. In advancing

energy justice, all individuals have the right to: safe, sustainable energy production; the resilient and

updatedenergyinfrastructure;affordableenergy;anduninterruptedenergyservice.134TheNAACPcallsfor

the development of policies and utility structures that improve

energy efficiency throughout the energy continuum, advance

clean and renewable energy production, encourage and enable

the development of distributed generation, and protect human

lifeandwellbeing.Wefurthercallforasystemthatputspowerin

thehandsof thepeople, literallyand figuratively.Theseaspects

arecomponentsofthelargerutilitysystemchangethatwemust

build.

There are proven pathways for change. As demonstrated,

improvedenergyefficiencywouldlowerenergybillsandmakeit

lesslikelyforutilitycustomerstofallintoarrears.135Thesameis

trueofdistributedgeneration,particularlywhenpairedwithPay

As You Save (PAYS) models that would allow households to

pay very little for electricity. 136 With greater energy

independence and reliance on renewable sources, the entire energy systemwould be less vulnerable to

market fluctuations, which would stabilize costs.137Through reducing emissions from fossil fuel based

energy production, climate change mitigation goals would also benefit from these shifts. Therefore, the

tremendous expense of disaster related outages,which are increasing and have real impacts on utilities'

budgets,138wouldbereduced—protectingcustomersfromyetanotherhazardousoutagethatisoutsideof

theircontrol.

Utility customerswho are disconnected due to non-payment should not face the potential of death and

sufferingwhenviablesolutionsexist.Muchactionisneededtoceasethisneedlessendangerment.Nowis

thetimetoexpandtheresearchandevidencesurroundingtheimpactsandissuesofutilitydisconnections,

aswellasreformhowwemanageandoperatetheentitiesthatsupplythesecriticalservices.

IMPROVEDDATACOLLECTION,RESEARCH,ANDTRANSPARENCY

"Forsomecustomers,thereis"apermanentlevelofunaffordabilitybuiltintotherates.''

-WilliamYates,SeniorFinancialAnalyst,PublicUtilityLawProjectofNewYork.

There is a need formore extensive and transparent data and research concerning utility disconnections,

nationwide.Until this information ismore readilydocumented, shared,andanalyzedourmessagewillbe

moreeasilyignored.Wherethisinformationdoesexist,itneedstobemadepubliclyavailable,especiallyto

customersofutilities.

Source:PeopleoverProfit,twitter.com

28

RECCOMENDATIONSFORUTILITYCOMMISSIONS,REGULATORS,ANDUTILITIES

Itistheresponsibilityofutilitycompaniesandthosewhoregulatethemtoensurethatrecordsanddataof

disconnections are documented and made publicly available, at minimum, to its customer base. In

accordance with the rights, principles, and actions previously discussed, we advise public utility

commissions,regulators,andutilitycompaniesto:

1. Setstrict recordkeepingstandardsof theentire

disconnection/terminationofserviceprocess;

2. Conduct studies on the financial and human

costsofutilitydisconnections;

3. Makerecordsofdisconnectionpubliclyavailable

oncommission,utility,orgovernmentwebsites;

and

4. Use this information to evaluate and improve

disconnection protection policies and

safeguards.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORGOVERNMENTAGENCIESANDORGANIZATIONS

Severalfederalandstateagenciesandorganizationscollect,analyze,andreleasedataandreportsregarding

theU.S.energyindustryatmultiplescales(e.g.U.S.EnergyInformationAdministration).Totheextentthat

utility disconnections are a part of these analyses is currently unknown, however, moving forward, it is

imperative that this information be included andmade publicly available. In accordance with the rights,

principlesandactionspreviouslydiscussed,weadvisethesegovernmentagenciesandorganizationsto:

1. Maintain extensive and up to date databases containing disconnection data provided by utility

companiesandregulatorysources;

2. Obtain, analyze, andmake transparent aggregate utility disconnection data in U.S. energy sector

reports;and

3. Hold public utility commissions, regulators, and utility companies accountable for providing

completedatasetsforassessmentanddissemination.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORUNIVERSITYANDNON-PROFITRESEARCHERS

As a society, we rely on academic and professional research for input into policy development. Thus,

researchersfromuniversitiesandorganizationswithresearchcapacity(e.g.NationalConsumerLawCenter

and the Consumer Federation of America)must also be aware of these issues and conduct studies that

fosterbetterunderstandingoftheconnectionsbetweenutilitydisconnections,theirimpactsonhouseholds,

andother industries and sectors.Weareasking researchers fromcolleges,universities, and capablenon-

profitorganizations,particularlythosewithstrongenvironmentalandenergyjusticeprograms,to:

MembersoftheCommitteeAgainstUtilityShutoffs(CAUS)speakingatacommunityeventSource:CAUS

29

1. Expandresearchonsociallyconsciousutilityandenergymodels;

2. Advanceresearchthatimpactsallpartsofsociety,particularlyvulnerablepopulations;

3. Partnerwithcommunitiesinandpromotecommunityparticipatoryresearchmodels;and4. Useexpandeddatainaccordancewiththeprinciplesandrightsoutlined.

UPHOLDINGHUMANRIGHTSINTHESHORTTERM

“Utilitiesareasocialright.Peoplehavearightnottofreezetodeath!Theyhavetherightnottoliveonthebareedgeofsurvival.Torealizethisright,however,wemustfightforit.Andthisdemonstrationisaninitialstageinthis

fight.”-LawrencePorter,CAUSchairmanandSEPAssistantNationalSecretary

139

While the end goal is clear—to prioritize utility policies that place a moratorium on utility servicedisconnections—theseprinciplescanbefurtheredthroughthefollowingpractices:


1. Requiremultipleattemptsbyphone,inwriting,and,inpersoncontactbeforedisconnection;2. Securenotificationofdisconnectionbymail;

3. Requireapost-disconnectionnoticetoallcustomers;4. Provideadditionalnoticeprovisionsforcustomerswhocanbedisconnectedremotely;

5. Restrict disconnections between 8:00am-2:00pm (or during hours of operations, and not

laterthan2hoursbeforecloseofbusiness)ondayswhenutilitieshaveemployeesavailable

forreconnections;6. Providenoticeandutilitydisconnectionpoliciesinmultiplelanguages;

7. Endpoliciessurroundingdisconnectionandreconnectionfees;

8. Ceasethecollectionofdepositsforutilityserviceactivationand/orreconnection;

9. Ensure that renters retain access to energy serviceswhennonpayment is the fault of the

landlordorotherthirdparty;

SEASONALPROTECTIONS

10. Include seasonal protections with bothtemperatureanddate-basedsolutions;

11. Setdisconnectionarrearageminimumsfor

customers who use utility services as the

primary source of heating or cooling

duringperiodsofseasonalprotection;12. Provide utility services during extreme

weather events that fall outside of

seasonalprotectionperiods;

PAYMENTASSISTANCE

30

13. Allowbudget payment plans to distribute

utilitycoststhroughouttheyear;14. Allowpartial paymentplans to customers

topreventdisconnections;15. Provideconnectionstosocialservicesandcasemanagementresourcesforhouseholdswith

delinquentbills(i.e.budgeting,foodassistance,andothersocialservices);

PROTECTIONSFORHOUSEHOLDSTHATARESOCIALLYVULNERABLE

16. Establish simple procedures for socially vulnerable groups to apply and be registered for

protectionfromdisconnection;17. Implementcustomersurveysinadvanceofextremeweatherseasonstoscreenforsocially

vulnerableindividuals;18. Ensure active outreach to socially vulnerable customers and households for inclusion in

protectionprograms;and19. Registrationintotheseprogramsshouldbecomplimentedwithanotificationtolocaland/or

stateemergencyreliefagenciesandsafetyresponders.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORUTILITYCOMPANIES

Withtheintenttoincorporatehumanrightsintoexistingutility

businessmodels,weadviseUtilityCompaniesandaffiliate

organizationsto:

1. Operateaccordingtotheprinciplesandpracticesof

humanrights;and

2. Ceaseinvestmentsandlobbyingpracticesthat

underminetherighttouninterruptedutilityservices.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORPUBLICUTILITYCOMMISSIONS

ANDREGULATORS

With the intent to incorporatehuman rights intoexistingutility

business models, we advise Public Utility Commissions, and

regulatorsto:

1. Enforceandadheretotheprinciplesandpracticesofa

humanrightsbasedutilitymodel;

2. Hold public hearings to investigate the extent and

natureofdisconnectionsinservicesareas;

3. Mandate exploration and implementation of energy efficiency, clean energy, and

distributedgenerationprogramsandtechnologies;

CommitteeAgainstUtilityShutoffs(CAUS)UtilityShut-offDemonstrationinDetroit,MISource:CAUS

INVESTOR-OWNEDUTILITY

ENGAGEMENT

While every state has different regulation

rules, it is a common practice to contact

theutilityas the first step to engagement.

Investor-owned utilities are regulated by

thePublicServiceCommission (PSC)/Public

Utility Commission (PUC). Generally,

PSC/PUCdealwithproblemsor issuesthat

theconsumerfeelswerenotsolvedbythe

utility,suchas,

• Serviceinstallationandlineextensions

• Highbills

• Qualityofservice

• Metertests

• Reasonablepaymentarrangements

• Outages

• Incorrectratesortariffs

• Unauthorizedswitchingofutility

servicefromone

31

4. Ensure that regulatory processes, meetings, and proceedings are accessible to all

customers;and

5. Holdthemselvesandutilitycompaniesaccountabletotheconcernsofcustomers.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORLEGISLATURES

With the intent to incorporate human rights into existing utility business models, it is critical that

legislatures:

1. Amend legal definitions of "public interest" to incorporate additional aspects of human

rights;

2. Establishpoliciesmandatingtheprinciplesandpracticesoftherighttouninterruptedutility

service;

3. Pass legislation that enables the advancement of energy efficiency and clean energy

programsandtechnology;

4. Passlegislationthatenablestheadvancementofenergyindependence;

5. Provideutilitycommissionswithaclearpublicinterestmandatetoauthorizeandencourage

commissions to regulate on new challenges and topics including climate change, rising

energycosts,airpollution,newtechnologies,andracialdiscrimination.

Traditionalandinnovativepublicinterestsrelatedtodisconnectionpoliciescouldinclude:thehealth,safety,

andwelfare of the public; consumer protection frommonopolymarket power; protection of low-income

membersof society;protectionof sociallyvulnerablegroups;protectionof socioeconomicgroupwhoare

disproportionatelyimpactedbyutilitydisconnections;enablingconsumerstopayforutilities.

RECCOMENDATIONSFORUTILITYCUSTOMERSANDCONSUMERADVOCATES

Ascustomersandadvocates,ourgoal intheshorttermistostopthesufferingofvulnerablecommunitiesandthosewhofaceutilitydisconnectionnow.Weasadvocateswhoseektosecuredisconnectionpoliciesthatfalloutsideoftraditionalregulationsandprotecttherighttouninterruptedutilityservicesmust:

1. Directlyengagestateandlocallegislaturesbeforeacommissionwillpassregulations;

2. Demandlegislaturespassspecificauthorizationsfortheseregulations;

3. Petitionutilitiesandpublicutilitycommissionstoadopttheseprinciples;

4. Hold utilities accountable for supporting the human rights of customers by documenting and

buildingtheevidenceofhowhumanandcivilrightsareviolated;

5. Partnerwithresearchinstitutionstoconductcommunityparticipatoryresearch;

6. DemandimprovedaccesstoPublicUtilityCommissionandregulatorymeetingsandproceedings;

7. Demandincreasedtransparencyoftheoperationsofutilitycompaniesandtheiraffiliates;and

8. Enforcethedemandforpoliciesandpracticesthatprotecthumanlifethroughgrassrootsadvocacy

(e.g. consumer education, direct negotiations, lobbying, direct action, media campaigns, and

litigationwherenecessary,etc.)

32

LEADINGDISCONNECTIONPROTECTION

WORKNATIONWIDE

TURN-: The Utility Reform Network [CA]advocatesfor customers and assists them with understandingtheirbillsandutilitypractices.Thegroupholdsutilitycorporations accountable by demanding fair rates,cleanerenergyandstrongconsumerprotections.

http://www.turn.org/

GeorgeWileyCenter[RI]organizespeoplefromlow-income communities to advocate for systematicchange. One of the major campaigns is based onutility justice. The “Know Your Utility Rights” clinicseducate consumers on their rights and how tochallengetheDivisionofPublicUtilities.

http://www.georgewileycenter.org/utilities

Utility Reform Project [OR]is asking for a reformoftheentireutilitysystem.Thegroupwantsthecontrolof electric utilities to be in the hands of customersandtheirelectedofficials.Theywantjustutilityratesandfairbillingpractices.

http://utilityreform.org/index.htm

New York’s Utility Project [NY] is advocating foruniversal service, affordability, and customerprotectionforNewYorkStateutilityconsumers.

http://utilityproject.org/

Committee Against Utility Shutoffs (CAUS) [MI] isasking for the stop to utility shut offs and for DTEEnergy’s top executives and government regulatorstobeheldaccountableforutilityrelatedfires.

https://www.facebook.com/stopshutoffs/

By recognizing energy as a basic need and human right, households would ideally be protected by

moratoriums whereby energy services would remain available indefinitely, particularly for vulnerable

householdsandcustomers.However,rightnowthegoalistoendthecurrentsufferingofhouseholdsthat

areenergy insecurebyadopting theseprinciples. In advancingmorehumanedisconnectionpractices,we

mustrecognizethatprotectionsdonotcurbutilitydebtaccumulationorprovideindefiniteprotectionsfrom

suffering.Householdswhoexperiencechronicenergyinsecurityarenotonlysubjectedtoshut-offs,butalso

faceincreasedfinancialliabilities,exposuretoadditional

health risks, and residential and economic instability.140

The policies and strategies outlined here represent a

movement toward a more humanistic utility model,

however,wemustexemplifythechangewewanttosee.

Wemustdevelopcommunitysolargardensandengage

in community aggregated choice, while advocating for

policies that move communities toward energy

sovereignty (e.g. energy efficiency, clean energy,

distributed generation, local hire provisions,

disadvantagedbusinessenterprise,etc.).

BUILDINGONTHELEGACYOFCHANGE

In solidarity with organizations and initiatives

nationwide, we seek to advance the conversation and

action around the creation of utility models that work

for consumers and the environment. We stand with

those who have worked for decades before us to

removetheillsofutilitydisconnections,includingTURN:

The Utility Reform Network in California, the George

WileyCenterinRhodeIsland,theUtilityReformProject

in Oregon, New York’s Utility Project in New York, the

CommitteeAgainstUtilityShutoffs(CAUS)andMichigan

Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO) in Michigan, and

national organizations like the National Consumer Law

Center, and the Consumer Federation of America,

among others. The work of these and other

organizationshavesavedlivesandsecuredthesafetyof

so many in the states and regions in which they

advocateandbeyond.

Membersof theGeorgeWileyCenterhavesuccessfully

securedthestrongestchildprotection in thecountry. In

Rhode Island, there are guaranteed utility service

protections for households in financial hardship with

AdvocatesoftheGeorgeWileyCenter,RISource:GeorgeWileyCenter

33

childrenundertwoyearsold.TheCenterhasalsochallengedtheState'sDivisionofPublicdirectlythrough

collective community action to institute Emergency Restoration of utility service to medically vulnerable

households.Theseareprotectionsallstatesshouldhaveinplace.

InDecember2015,NewYork'sUtilityProject filedanamicusbrief in theUnitedStatesSupremeCourt in

Hughesv.PPLEnergyPlus,LLC.Theorganizationsoughtanswerstothefollowing:

Whether,whenasellerofferstobuildgenerationandsellwholesalepoweronafixed-

rate contractbasis, the FederalPowerAct field-preemptsa stateorderdirecting retail

utilities to enter into the contract; and whether the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission’s (FERC’s) acceptance of an annual regional capacity auction preempts

statesfromrequiringretailutilitiestocontractatfixedrateswithsellerswhoarewilling

tocommittosellintotheauctiononalong-termbasis.141

TheUtilityProjectfrequentlyengagesinsuchlegalactiontoensurethatutilityactionisinaccordancewith

customerinterestsandrights.

TheNAACPstandswiththeseorganizationsinthepursuitoftheeliminationofthepracticeofutilityservice

disconnection.Whileestablishingandexpandingprotectionsispressing,advocatesmustrememberthatthe

goalismuchlarger.Utilitycompaniesandtheirassociatesmustbeheldaccountableandbeleadersinthe

transformationoftheenergysector.Equitywillnotbeachievedovernight.Itwillonlybeachievedthrough

hardworkonthepartofusall.

LONGTERMVISION

It iscrucialtorememberthatthereformswearecallingforandthetacticsweusetoachievethemarein

theshorttermtoaddresstheemergencycircumstancesinwhichalltoomanyhouseholdsfindthemselves.

Inthelongterm,wemustcontinuetopushforsystemschange,includingdistributedgenerationandpeople

owned,humanrightscenteredutilities. It istimetonotonlyeliminatetheharmfulutilitypractices,butto

correcttheextractiveeconomythatwecurrentlyface.

Eachofthedeathsandsufferingdetailedinthisreportisanindictmentagainstthecompanieswhowielded

power and ignored the cries formercy in the heartless pursuit of profits, and against the legislators and

regulatorswho failed to provide adequate leadership. In the short term,we canpush for the reforms as

detailedabove.Butthey’vehadtheirchanceandit’stimeforatotalsystemrevolution.

The fightagainst theextractiveeconomy isnotaboutmaking thingsbetter forpeoplewhoarepoor; it is

about eliminating poverty, racism, and other social and structural inequities that render households

vulnerable.In2015,theU.S.energysectormade$178billionfromresidentialenergyusealone.Aswefocus

oneliminatingpovertywhileensuringenergysecurity,onewayofdoingthisistoreformtheenergysector,

a $6 trillion sector, by transitioning power to the people and anchoring the change in increased energy

efficiencydistributedgenerationofcleanenergy.

34

There is an opportunity to reinvent this sector, to create a shared economy and keep thismoney in the

hands of citizens. Some individuals, households, and communities have begun to move toward energy

sovereignty.StoriessuchasAmyMays,(seestoryonPage33,FromPersecutedbyMyUtilitytoPoweredand

Empoweredby the SUN!), provideanexampleofwhat canbe. It is time for a Just Transition to localized

economies, grounded in ecological stewardship, community wellbeing, democratic decision-making, and

locallycontrolresources(Figure6).142

Figure6.AJustTransition,Source:OurPowerCampaign,ClimateJusticeAlliance

35

VISIONINACTIONFROM PERSECUTED BY MY UTILITY TOPOWERED AND EMPOWERED BY THE SUN! -AMYMAYS,ARIZONA

Mystorybeganin1994whenIopenedabeautyshopfor my daughter. After we had been in business forfour years, my troubles began with the local utilitycompany,SaltRiverProject(SRP),whentheyrequiredthatIpayanadditionaldeposittocontinuetoreceiveelectricity services. I fought,buteventuallyendeduppayingtheadditionaldeposit.Then,inJune2003,theutility company demanded a further deposit, eventhoughIwascurrentonallpayments.

I contacted the Arizona State NAACP office and they convinced the utility company to reconnect theelectricityifIpaidaportionofthedeposit.However,inAugust2003,SRPagaindisconnectedtheelectricityrequesting the remainder of the deposit.We did not have themoney so they turned off the electricity,whichresultedintheclosingofournearlyten-yearoldbusiness.Eventhoughourservicewasterminated,with all payments up to date, the utility company inexplicably continued to demand payment for thiscompletelyillegitimate“bill.”

Since that bill from my closed business went “unpaid,” to add insult to injury, the utility companydisconnected the electrical power to my home on April 8, 2004.From 2004 to 2006 I suffered withoutelectricity,livingoutofmyicechest.

When I first heard about solar panels in 2006 I began reading everything I could about them. I searchedonlineuntilIlocatedasolarsystemdesignedforoff-gridcabins.Iorderedmyfirstsolarsystemfor$5,000.Asatrainedelectrician,Ihadtheskillstoinstallthepanelsmyself.Ipurchasedadditionalsolarpanelsoneortwopanelsatatime,andthenecessaryequipmentfor installation,until Ihadaccumulatedenoughforanadditionalsystem,whichIalsoinstalledmyself.AsI’vegottenolder,I’vetrainedanotherelectriciantohelpmaintainmysolarpanelsystem.

Tenyears later,nowin2016,myhomeisstillnotconnectedtotheutility-operatedgrid. Ihaven’tpaidanelectricitybillsince2004,andthesavingsIhaveexperiencedasaresulthavebeentremendous.Withoutanelectricitybill topayeverymonth,my solarpanelspaid for themselves and I’vebeen savingmoneyeversince. I will never go back to the utility connection. Throughmy own rooftop solar panels, I have beenliberatedfromthehighratestheutilitycompaniesdemandandthecontroltheyheldoverme!

Withlifethreatening,highheattemperaturesinArizona,solarhasliterallysavedmylife!

IsharemystorywitheveryoneImeet.Infact,mydoctorwassoinspiredbymystorythatherecentlyhadsolarpanels installedonhishome.He, too,hasbeen thrilledwithhisexperiencegoingsolarand toldmethatlastmonthhiselectricitybillhasgonedowntoamere$30.

It feels good to controlmy own power and not have to rely on the utility company for anything. Iwant

people to know that if I can find independence through solar, then other people can do the same. The

powerfromthesunisalreadythereandalwayswillbe.Nowpeoplejustneedtofindwaystouseit!

AmyMaystellingherstoryatanNAACPEnergyJusticeTrainingin2016

36

APPENDIXA:ELECTRICITYAFFORDABILITYINDEX-U.S.STATES

0.000%

0.500%

1.000%

1.500%

2.000%

2.500%

3.000%

3.500%

4.000%

4.500%

Colorado

Utah

New

Ham

pshire

Massachuse>

sDistricto

fColum

bia

Washington

Wyoming

Minne

sota

Maine

California

Rhod

eIsland

New

Jersey

Illinois

New

Mexico

Verm

ont

Wisc

onsin

NorthDakota

Oregon

Idaho

Iowa

Neb

raska

Maryland

Conn

ecMcut

Alaska

Michigan

Virginia

Mon

tana

SouthDa

kota

Penn

sylvania

New

York

Kansas

Nevada

Missou

riIndiana

Oklahom

aOhio

Delaware

WestV

irginia

Arizo

na

Texas

Kentucky

Arkansas

Louisia

na

Georgia

NorthCarolina

Florida

Tenn

essee

SouthCarolina

Mississippi

Alabam

aHa

waii

U.S.ElectricAffordabilityIndex

ElectrictyAffordabilityIndex(bill/Income) UnitedStatesAverage

37

APPENDIXB:SURVEYOFSTATEDISCONNECTIONPOLCIES

ALABAMA

Source ALA.ADMIN.CODEr.770-X-1-.12

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedfivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection None.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionswhenthetemperatureatthatlocationisforecastedtobe32ºForbelowforthatcalendarday.

PaymentPlans No.Utilitymayrequirepaymentofalldelinquentchargesandreconnectionfeebeforereconnecting.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.

MedicalProtections Tariffsgoverndisconnectionofservicepracticeswhenlifeorhealthisthreatenedbydisconnection.Customersmayrequirespecialconsiderationbasedonage,disabilitystatus,medicalconditions,orothercircumstances.

ALASKA

Source ALASKAADMIN.CODEtit.3,§§52.445,52.450

Notice Initialnoticemustbemailedtocustomerfifteendaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Secondnoticeprovidedinperson,bytelephone,orbypostingmustbemadethreedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.


TemperatureBasedProtection None.

DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsmayoccurMonday-Thursdaybetween8:00am-5:00pm.NodisconnectionsonFridays,Weekends,ordaysprecedinglegalholidays.

PaymentPlans Yes.Deferredpaymentmaybeanalternativetodisconnectionbasedonthetariffofautility.


MedicalProtections Postponedisconnectionforfifteendaysforcustomerswhoareelderly,ill,dependentonlifesupportsystems,orwhohaveadisability.

38

ARIZONA

Source ARIZ.ADMIN.CODE§§R14-2-211,R14-2-201

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedfivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.


TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectiononadaywhentheforecastedtemperatureforthefollowingdaydoesnotexceed32ºF.TheCommissionmaydeterminethatotherweatherconditionsareespeciallydangeroustohealthastheneedarises.


ARKANSAS

Source ARK.CODEANN.§23-4-204,ARK.ADMIN.CODE§§126.03.2-6.04,126.03.2-6.09,126.03.2-6.13,126.03.2-6.15,126.03.2-6.18

Notice Initialnoticemaybemailedeightdaysbeforescheduleddisconnectionordeliveredfivedaysbeforeascheduleddisconnection.Customerswhoareelderlyorwhohavedisabilitiesmusthavetwonoticeattemptsatleast72hoursbeforetheshutoff.Ifneitherattemptissuccessful,writtennoticemustbegivenatleast24hoursinadvanceofdisconnect.

DateBasedProtection November1–March31.Gasutilitiesmaynotdisconnectservicesforlow-incomecustomers.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsonadaywhenatemperature32ºForbelowisforecastedanytimeinthefollowing24hours.Nodisconnectionsforelderlycustomersorcustomerswithdisabilitiesonadaywhenatemperatureof95ºForaboveisforecastedanytimeinthefollowing24hours.

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectmayoccurduringnormalbusinesshours,butnotinthelasthourofthebusinessday.Nodisconnectionsonaday,ordaybeforeadaywhentheutilitywillhavenoemployeesavailabletoreconnect.

PaymentPlans Yes.Entryintopaymentplanisrequiredtoqualifyasallow-incomecustomerduringwinterprotectionperiod.Plansareavailabletoothercustomerstodeferdisconnectionatothertimes.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionchargesallowedforwater,gas,orelectricutilities.

CALIFORNIA

Source CAL.PUB.UTIL.CODE§§10010,10010.1,CAL.MIL.&VET.Code§827

39

Notice Noticemustbesentfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.



PaymentPlans Yes.Availabletocustomerswithmedicalcertification.

MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionwithmedicalcertificationthatadisconnectionislifethreateningtothecustomer.Customermustenterintoapaymentplan.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionduetoareductioninhouseholdincomeastheresultofamemberofthehouseholdbeingcalledtoactivedutystatusinthemilitary.

COLORADO

Source 4COLO.CODEREGS.§§723-3:3408(electricity),723-4:4407(gas)

Notice Initialwrittennoticemustbeprovidedbymailfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Secondnoticemustbeattemptedinpersonorbyphone24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.



PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforsixtydayswithamedicalcertification.Medicalcertificationmayberenewedforanadditionalthirtydays.

OtherProtections NoticeshallbeprintedinEnglishandanyotherlanguagewheretheutility'sserviceterritorycontainsapopulationofatleasttenpercentwhospeakaspecificlanguageotherthanEnglishastheirprimarylanguage.

CONNECTICUT

Source CONN.AGENCIESREGS.§§16-3-100,16-11-75

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedbymailthirteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

40

DateBasedProtection Yes.NodisconnectionsNovember1–April15thforqualifyinglow-incomecustomers.However,ifutilitiesprovidedserviceduringthepreviouswinterprotectionperiod,andcustomerwasdisconnectedduringtheunprotectedtime,customermustpaythelesserof:20%ofoutstandingbalance,minimumpaymentsdueunderamortizationagreement,or$100tobereconnected.


PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionwithmedicalcertificationduringthewinterprotectionperiod.Nodisconnectionwithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentplanduringallothertimes.Certificationmustberenewedeveryfifteendaysunlessphysiciancertifiesotherwise.

DELAWARE

Source 26DEL.ADMIN.CODE§§3002-1.0,3002-2.0,3002-3.0,3002-6.0

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovedfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Duringthewinterprotectionperiod,theutilitymustmaketwoattemptsattelephonenoticebeforedisconnection.Atleastoneattemptmustbemadeafter6:00pm.Duringthesummerprotectionperiod,theutilitymustmakeoneattemptattelephonenoticeafter6:00pmbeforedisconnection.Employeedisconnectingservicemustattemptpersonalcontactpriortodisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.June1–September30,November15–March31.Additionalnoticerequirementsapplyduringtheseperiods.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectiononadaywhentemperaturesarebelow32ºForabove105ºF.

PaymentPlans Yes.

MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionwithmedicalcertification.

DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA

Source D.C.MUN.REGS.tit.15§§315,312,306,314,311,310

Notice Noticemustbemailedfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustattempttwonotificationsbyphoneorinpersonpriortodayofdisconnection.Employeemustmakeoneattempttopersonallynotifythecustomerattimeofdisconnectionforgasorelectricity.Ifnocontactismadeinthesethreeadditionalattempts,thedisconnectionofelectricityorgaswillbepostponed.

41


TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionondaysbelow32ºF,orondaysprecedingalegalholidayorweekendwithaforecastedtemperaturebelow32ºF.

DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsbetween5:00pmThursdayand8:00amMonday.Nodisconnectionsonalegalholidaysoranyotherdaywhentheutilityisclosedtothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforuptotwenty-onedayswithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentplan.Certificationmayberenewedforanadditionaltwenty-onedays.

FLORIDA

Source FLA.ADMIN.CODEr.25-30.320,25-30.345

Notice Noticemustbeprovidedfivebusinessdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.



DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsbetween12:00pmonFridayand8:00amonMonday,orafter12:00pmonthedaybeforealegalholidayandbefore8:00amonthefollowingbusinessday.


GEORGIA

Source GA.COMP.R.&REGS.515-3-3-.01,515-3-2-.01,515-3-2-.02,515-3-2-.04,515-3-3-.07

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedfivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Personalcontactmustbeattemptedwithintwodaysofscheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.NodisconnectionNovember15–Marchifcustomerentersintopaymentplan.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionwhenforecastedlowfordayofdisconnectionisbelow32ºF.Nodisconnection

42

whenHeatAdvisoryorExcessiveHeatWarningisineffectforthecountyondayofdisconnection.

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectiononlyonbusinessdayswhenutilityisavailabletoreceivepayment.

PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionforthelengthofcertificationwithmedicalcertification.

HAWAII

Source HAW.CODER.§6-60-8

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedareasonableamountoftimebeforescheduleddisconnection.



DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsmayoccuronlyduringutilitybusinesshours.Nodisconnectionsonweekendsorlegalholidays.

PaymentPlans No.Mustpaythebill,evenifprotestingthechargeorscheduleddisconnectioninordertoavoiddisconnection.

OtherProtections Utilitymustprovidespecialconsiderationindisconnectingservicetocustomers62yearsofageorolderandcustomerswithdisabilities.

IDAHO

Source IDAHOADMIN.CODEr.31.21.01.306,31.21.01.308,31.21.01.311,31.21.01.603

Notice Initialwrittennoticemustbeprovidedsevendaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Secondwrittennoticemaybesentthreedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustattemptinpersonortelephonenoticeatleast24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsforhouseholdswithchildren,elderlyoccupants,orseriouslyilloccupantsfromDecember–February.Nodisconnectionsforhouseholdswithchildren,elderlyoccupants,orseriouslyilloccupantswhencustomerentersanapprovedpaymentplanfromNovember–March.


43

DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidays,ordaysprecedinglegalholidays.Nodisconnectionswhentheutilityisnotopenforbusiness.

PaymentPlans Yes.Offeredatutility’sdiscretionoutsideofthewinterprotectionperiod.WinterpaymentplansareavailableNovember–March.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.

ILLINOIS

Source ILL.ADM.CODEtit.83§§280.80,280.130,280.135,280.160,280.180,App.A

Notice Initialwrittennoticemustbeprovidedinpersonorbymailtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Noticemustbeattemptedbytelephone48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Asecondtelephonenoticemustbeattempted24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnectionifthefirstcallwasunsuccessful.

DateBasedProtection Yes.Noutilitymaydisconnectserviceforlow-incomecustomers,activemilitarypersonnel,ormilitaryveteransfromDecember1–March31.Autilitywithmorethan100,000customersmaynotdisconnectservicefromDecember1-March31.Protectionfromdisconnectionmayrequireentryintoawinterpaymentplan.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsonadaywhenthetemperatureisforecastedtobebelow32ºFoverthenext24hours,orduringtheholidayorweekendfollowingthescheduleddisconnection.Autilitywithmorethan100,000customersmaynotdisconnectwhentemperaturesexceed95ºFinthenext24hours,orduringtheholidayorweekendfollowingthescheduleddisconnection.

DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsonehourbeforetheutilityisclosedtothepublic.Nodisconnectionswhentheutilityisnotopentothepublic.Nodisconnectionsafter12:00pmonFridays.

PaymentPlans Yes.Entryintopaymentplanmayberequiredtopreventdisconnectionduringseasonalprotectionperiods.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforsixtydayswithmedicalcertification.

INDIANA

Source 170IND.ADMIN.CODE4-1-15,4-1-16,4-1-16.6(electricity)170IAC5-1-15,5-1-16,5-1-16.6(gas)

Notice Writtenorpersonalnoticemustbeprovidedfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Employeemustattemptpersonalcontactimmediatelybeforescheduleddisconnection.Employeeperformingthedisconnectionisnotrequiredtoacceptpaymenttopreventthedisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.December1–March15,nodisconnectionforlow-incomecustomers

44


DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectsonlyallowedbetween8:00am-3:00pm.Nodisconnectonanydaywhenutilityisnotopen,orafternoononadayprecedinganydaywhentheutilityisnotopen.

PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionfortendayswithmedicalcertification.Certificationmayberenewedforanadditionaltendays.

IOWA

Source IOWAADMIN.CODEr.199-19.4(476)(gas),199-20.4(476)(electricity)

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedtwelvedaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Forcustomersbilledmorefrequentlythanoncepermonth,anadditionalnoticemustbeposted24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April1nodisconnectionsforlow-incomecustomers.


DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsmaytakeplacebetweenthehoursof6:00am-2:00pmMonday–Thursday.

PaymentPlans Yes.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Alsoallowedtochargefordisconnectionofservices.Feesmaybehigherforreconnectionineveningsoronweekends.

MedicalProtections Disconnectionpostponedforthirtydayswithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentplan.

OtherProtections Forhouseholdswhereaheadofthehouseholdisaservicememberdeployedformilitaryservice,nodisconnectionsareallowedduringthedeploymentandforninetydaysafterthedeployment.

KANSAS

Source KansasCorporationCommission“Electric,NaturalGasandWaterBillingStandards”Order(2012)

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustmaketwoattemptsattelephonenoticeatleasttwodaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

45

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31disconnectionsarenotpermittedinaccordancewithtemperaturerestrictions.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsonadaywhenthetemperaturewilldropbelow35ºForwhenthetemperatureisforecastedtobe"inthemid30sorcolder”inthefollowing48-hourperiod.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplanrequiredduringwinterprotectionperiodwhentheweatherisabove35ºF.Topreventdisconnection,thecustomermustpay1/12ofarrearageamount,1/12ofthecurrentbill,alldisconnectionorreconnectionfees,andenterintoan11-monthpaymentplanfortheremainingamounts.Paymentplansof“reasonableinstallments”permittedatothertimesduringtheyearwithmedicalcertification.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforatleasttwenty-onedayswithmedicalcertificationandproofofinabilitytopaythefullamountofthebalance.Customermustenterintoapaymentplan.

KENTUCKY

Source 807KY.ADMIN.REGS.5:006

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionsforlow-incomecustomerswhoenterintoandcomplywithapaymentplan.


PaymentPlans Yes.


LOUISIANA

Source CommissionGeneralOrderR-29706,EntergyTariff

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedthirtydaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.


TemperatureBasedProtection Nodisconnectionsonadaywhenthetemperatureisforecastedtoremainatorbelow32ºFforthefollowing24hours,andwhenthepreviousday’shighesttemperaturedidnotexceed32ºF.Nodisconnectionsonadaywhenaheatadvisoryisineffect.

46

DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsFridaysafter1:00pm,onweekends,legalholidays,orthedaybeforealegalholiday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplansavailabletopreventdisconnection.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.$30.00chargeforEntergy.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionby30dayswithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentarrangement.Certificationmustberenewedannually.

MAINE

Source 65-407ME.CODER.Ch.815,§§2,10,11,12

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustattemptpersonalnoticeduringthewinterprotectionperiod.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–April15nodisconnectionsforlow-incomecustomerswhoenterintoapaymentplan.


DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidaysorthedayimmediatelybeforealegalholiday.Disconnectionsmusttakeplacebetween8:00am–3:00pmonscheduledday.

PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Certificationmayberenewedtwiceduringatwelve-monthperiod.Utilitymustnotacceptmorethanthreemedicalemergenciesduringatwelvemonthperiod.

MARYLAND

Source MD.CODEREGS.20.31.01.03-.04,20.31.02.05,20.31.03.03,20.31.05.07.

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustmaketwopersonalnoticeattemptsbeforedisconnectionduringthewinterprotectionperiod.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionsunlessutilitycertifiesanaffidavittotheCommissionwhichconsiderslow-incomestatusofcustomer;elderly,ill,ordisabilitystatusofcustomer;amountinarrearage;etc.

47

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenforecastis32ºForbelow.

DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday–Thursday.DisconnectionsallowedonSaturdayifutilityhasmadetwounsuccessfulattemptstodisconnectonweekdays.

PaymentPlans Yes.

OtherProtections Postponementofdisconnectionwhenanoccupantofthepremisesiselderly,seriouslyill,hasadisability,orreliesuponlife-supportequipment.Utilitiesmayusetheirdiscretiontonotdiscontinueserviceifitreasonablybelievesdisconnectionwillendangerlife,health,orsafety.

MASSACHUSETTS

Source 220MASS.CODEREGS.25.01,25.0225.03,25.05

Notice Noticemustbeprovidedbetween72hoursandfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–March15nodisconnectioniftheutilityprovidesheatandtheutilityservicewasnotdisconnectedbeforeNovember15.


DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsMonday–Thursdaybetween8:00am–4:00pm.Nodisconnectionsonalegalholidayorthedaybeforealegalholiday.

PaymentPlans Yes.

MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionfornonpaymentwithmedicalcertification.Certificationmustberenewedquarterlyoreverysixmonthsforchronicconditions.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionfornonpaymentifthehouseholdhasachildunder12monthsold.Nodisconnectionsifalladultsare65yearsoldorolder,andaminorresidesinthehouse.Nodisconnectionsforlow-incomecustomers.Renewaloflow-incomestatusmustbemadequarterly,exceptduringtheseasonalprotectionperiod.Disconnectionforcustomers65yearsoroldermaybedoneonlyafterreceivingwrittenapproval.

MICHIGAN

Source MICH.ADMIN.CODEr.460.1626,460.147,460.102460.148,460.150,460.141,460.140,460.139,460.1607,460.120,460.143,460.147,460.144

Notice Noticemustbeprovidedbyphoneormailing.Phonenoticemustbeattemptedtwotimesatleastonedaybeforethescheduleddisconnection.Mailednoticemustbesentatleastfivedaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

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DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31.Nodisconnectionsforcustomers65yearsorolder.Nodisconnectionsforeligiblelow-incomecustomerswithentryintoapaymentplanwherecustomermakesmonthlypaymentsequalto7%oftheannualbill.


DisconnectionLimitations Disconnections8:00am–4:00pm.Nodisconnectionsonadaybeforeadaywhentheutilityisunavailableforreconnections.NoFridaydisconnectionsforpaymentplandefaultsduringthewinterprotectionperiod.

PaymentPlans Yes.Specialrateofpaymentavailableforlow-incomecustomersduringthewinterprotectionperiod.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Noreconnectionfeeforcustomers65yearsorolderduringthewinterprotectionperiod.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionfornotmorethantwenty-onedayswithmedicalcertification.Certificationmaybereneweduptoatotalpostponementofsixty-threedaysinatwelve-monthperiod.Autilityisnotrequiredtograntpostponementstotalingmorethan126daysperhousehold.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionsforeligiblemilitarycustomersforninetydays.Protectionmayberenewedforanadditionalninetydays.Protectionrequiresthecustomertoenterintoapaymentplanatthecloseoftheprotectionperiod.

MINNESOTA

Source MINN.STAT.§§216B.096,216B.097,216B.0975,216B.0993,216B.098.MINN.R.7820.2400,7820.2600,7820.2500

Notice Noticerequiredbymailorinperson.

DateBasedProtection Yes.October15–April15nodisconnectionsforallcustomerswhoenterintopaymentplans.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionswhenanexcessiveheatwatch,heatadvisory,orexcessiveheatwarninghasbeenissued.

DisconnectionLimitations Duringthewinterprotectionperiod,disconnectionsmayoccurMonday–Thursday.UtilitymaydisconnectonFridaysonlywithpersonalnoticeandanofferofpaymentagreement.Nodisconnectionsonalegalholiday,dayprecedingalegalholiday,ordaywhentheutilityorcommissionisclosed.

PaymentPlans Yes.Requiredduringthewinterprotectionperiodforallcustomers.Utilitycannotrequestpaymentsofmorethan10%ofthecustomer’shouseholdforlow-incomecustomers.Gasutilitiesarepermittedtohavebudgetpaymentplans.


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MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionswithmedicalcertification

OtherProtections Anycustomermayapplytothecommissionforemergencystatus.Thecommissionmaydeclareanemergencystatustoexistandpostponedisconnectionforaperiodofuptothirtydays.

MISSISSIPPI

Source 39-1CODEMISS.R.§§2:0,2:8

Notice Noticemustbemailedorpostedatleastfivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.December1–March31nodisconnectionswhenthecustomerentersintoandcomplieswithapaymentplan.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsinanycountyondayswithafreezewarningorexcessiveheatwarningissuedby8:00amonthescheduledday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Requiredforwinterprotectionperiod.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Reconnectionanddisconnectionfeepermitted.

MedicalProtections NodisconnectionDecember–Marchwithmedicalcertification.Postponementofdisconnectionforsixtydayswithmedicalcertificationatanyotherpointduringtheyear.

MISSOURI

Source MO.CODEREGS.ANN.tit.4,§§240-13.055,240-13.050

Notice Writtennoticemaybemailedordeliveredinperson.Ifmailed,thenoticemustbesentatleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifdelivered,thenoticemustbegivenatleast96hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Utilitymustattempttocontactthecustomeratleast24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnectionthroughawrittennotice,postingontheproperty,ortwophonecalls.Employeemustattemptpersonalcontactattimeofdisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionswithentryintoapaymentplan

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsonadayordaybeforethetemperatureisbelow32ºF.Nodisconnectionsonadayordaybeforethetemperatureisabove95º.

PaymentPlans Yes.Initialpaymentmaynotexceed12%oftwelve-monthbillamountforacustomerwhohasnotdefaultedonawinterprotectionperiodpaymentplan.Initialpaymentmustbe80%ofthecustomer’sbalanceforacustomerwhohasdefaultedonawinterprotectionperiodpaymentplan.

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MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionfortwenty-onedayswithmedicalcertification.

MONTANA

Source MONT.ADMIN.R.38.5.1410,38.5.1412,38.5.1413,38.5.1405,38.5.1415,38.5.1411

Notice Noticemustbemailedatleasttwentydaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifcustomerdoesnotrespondtothefirstnotice,asecondnoticemustbemailedatleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Inpersonorphonenoticemustbeprovidedonedaybeforeactualdisconnection.Employeemustattemptpersonalnoticeatthetimeofdisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April1nodisconnectionswithoutpriorapprovaloftheCommission.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionondaysbelow32ºForondayswhenfreezingtemperaturesorsnowstormsarepredictedforthefollowingday.

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsallowedbetween8:00am–12:00pm.Nodisconnectionsonadayorimmediatelyprecedingadaywhentheutilityisnotopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplanavailableatanytimeforacustomerwhoisunabletopayfullbill.

MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionwithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentplan.

NEBRASKA

Source NEB.REV.ST.§70-1606.291NEB.ADMIN.CODECh.9§§013,021

Notice Noticemustbemailed,deliveredinperson,orpostedatleastsevenbusinessdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionsforeligiblelow-incomecustomers.


DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsonweekends,legalholidays,orwhentheutilityisnotopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplansavailableatanytimeandtoanycustomerwhoisunabletopay.Paymentplansaretobe“reasonable”andworkedoutbetweentheutilityandthecustomer.Customerwhobelievestheofferedplanisunreasonablemayfileacomplaintwiththecommission.PaymentplanisrequiredtorestoreservicefromNovember1–March31

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ReconnectionCharge Yes.Disconnectionfeesalsoallowedbutnotduringwinterprotectionperiod.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Onlyonecertificationisallowedforeachincidenceofnonpayment.

OtherProtections “TheCommissionshallhavetheauthoritytoorderatemporarybanonanyoralldisconnectionsforjurisdictionalutilitiesduringperiodsofextremelysevereweatherorwhencircumstancesexistsuchthatdisconnectioncouldcreateasituationdangeroustothelifeorhealthofcustomersortoproperty.”

NEVADA

Source NEV.ADMIN.CODE§§704.360,704.370,704.372,704.375,704.383

Notice Noticemustbemailed,e-mailed,orpersonallydeliveredatleasttendaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Ifcustomerdoesnotrespondtothefirstnotice,asecondnoticemustbeprovidedatleast48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Thesecondnoticemaybeinperson,bymail,posting,telephone,ore-mail.Ifacustomerhasdefaultedonapaymentplanagreementtheutilitymustprovidenoticeonly48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.


TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsduringaperiodwhenweatherisbelow15ºForabove105ºF.Nodisconnectionswhenweatherisbelow20ºForabove95ºFforelderlycustomersorcustomerswithdisabilities.

DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday–Friday.Nodisconnectionsonlegalholidaysorthedaybeforealegalholiday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplansavailableforanycustomeratanytime.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertificationandentryintopaymentplan.Medicalcertificationmayberenewedforanadditionalthirtydays.

OtherProtections Utilitymaynotterminateservicetoacustomeriftheamountowedis$100orlessforelectricity,gas,orgasandelectricitycombined.

NEWHAMPSHIRE

Source N.H.CODEADMIN.R.ANN.PUC.1202.19,1203.07,1203.11,1203.12,1204.01,1204.02,1204.03,1204.04,1204.05,1204.06,1205.02,1205.03,1205.04,1205.05

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Notice Noticemustbemailedatleastfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Duringthewinterprotectionperiod,noticemustbemadeinpersonorbytelephonetwotoeightdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Customercanbedisconnectedwithoutfurthernoticefordefaultingonapaymentplan.

Foracustomerwithanexpiredmedicalemergencycertification,noticemustbemadeinpersonorbyphonetwotoeightdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifnocontactismade,inpersoncontactmustbeattemptedonthedayofdisconnection.Utilitymusthaveasupervisorreviewanyexpiredmedicalemergencyaccountwheresuccessfulcontacthasnotbeenmadebeforedisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–March31.Utilityneedspermissionfromthecommissiontodisconnectcustomers65yearsorolder.Nodisconnectionsfornon-heatinggasarrearagesupto$125,non-heatingelectricarrearagesupto$225,andheatingarrearagesupto$450.Forfinancialhardshipcustomers,paymentof10%ofbalanceissufficienttoreconnect.


DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsallowed8:00am–3:30pmMonday–Friday.Nodisconnectionsonoronthedaybeforealegalholidayoronoronthedaybeforeadaywhenthecommissionisclosed

PaymentPlans Yes.Availableatanytimeforallcustomers.Mustpayaportionofarrearageandsetupinstallmentpaymentsfortheremainingarrearage.Customermustpaycurrentandfuturebillsinfullandontime.Duringthewinterprotectionperiod,financialhardshipcustomershavemonthlypaymentsof10%ofthewinterprotectionperiodpayment,or10%ofthebalancedueandthewinterprotectionperiodpayment.


MedicalProtections Nodisconnectionforcustomerwithmedicalcertificationwhoentersintoapaymentagreement.Ifcustomerdoesnotcomplywiththepaymentagreement,theutilitymustgetpermissionfromthecommissiontodisconnect.Lengthofcertificationisdeterminedbythecertifyingphysicianandmustlastatleastninetydays,butmaylastforuptooneyear.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionifarrearageisoutstandingforlessthansixtydaysandislessthan$50.

“Thecommissionshallimposeamoratoriumondisconnectionsofservicewhenthereexistsanimminentperiltothepublic'shealth,safetyorwelfare.”

NEWJERSEY

Source N.J.ADMIN.CODE§§14:3–3A.2,14:3–3A.3,14:3–3A.4,14:3-3A.5,14:3–7.5,14:3–7.7

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedtocustomeratleast10daysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Customersknowntobe65yearsoroldermustbegivennoticebyphoneinadditiontonoticebymail.

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DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–March15nodisconnectionsforeligiblelow-incomecustomers.Customersdisconnectedpriortothisperiodmaybereconnecteduponpaymentofnomorethan25%oftheoutstandingbalance.Nosecuritydepositsrequiredforeligiblelow-incomecustomers.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionswhentemperatureforecastedtobe32ºForbelowanytimeinthefollowing24hours.Nodisconnectionforlow-incomecustomerswhenthetemperatureisforecastedtobeabove95ºFanytimeinthefollowing48hours.

PaymentPlans Yes.Budgetbillingplanavailablethroughouttheyear.Deferredpaymentagreementavailableatleastonceayearforcustomerswhoareunabletopay.Duringthewinterprotectionperiodeligiblecustomersareonlyrequiredtomake“good-faithpayments…iftheyhavetheabilitytodoso.”Theirpaymentsmaybelowerthantheinstallmentrequestedbytheutilityiftheyareunabletopaythefullamount.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforsixtydayswithmedicalcertification.CertificationmayberenewedatthediscretionoftheBoardofPublicUtilities.TherequestforrenewalmustbemadeinwritingtotheBoard.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionunlessarrearagesareover$100.00oraccounthasbeeninarrearsformorethan3months.

NEWMEXICO

Source N.M.CODER.§17.5.410

Notice InitialwrittennoticemustbeprovidedinEnglishandSpanishatleastfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Initialnoticemaybeprovidedinperson,bymail,orbye-mail.Finalnoticemustbegivenatleasttwodaysbeforethescheduleddisconnectioninperson,byphone,orbycertifiedmail.Ifutilitydoesnotdisconnectwithinfivedaysafterthescheduleddate,anadditionalfinalnoticeisrequired.

DateBasedProtection November15–March15nodisconnectionsforthosewhohavenoarrearagespriortothewinterprotectionperiod,orthosewhohaveapaymentplansetupforthearrearages.


DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday–Thursdaybetween7:30am–4:00pm.Nodisconnections24hoursbeforealegalholidayorweekendunlesstheutilityisopentothepublicontheholidayorweekend.

PaymentPlans Yes.Budgetbillingplansareavailabletoanycustomerthroughouttheyearforupto12months.


MedicalProtections Disconnectionprohibitedforlow-incomecustomerswithmedicalcertification.Socialserviceagencymustcertifythecustomer’sfinancialstatus.Medicalcertificationmaybeshort-termforninetydays,orlong-termforuptooneyear.Financialcertificationmustberenewedeveryninetydays.

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NEWYORK

Source N.Y.COMP.CODESR.&REGS.tit.16,§§11.4,11.5,11.7,11.8,11.9,11.10,11.11

Notice Finalnoticerequiredatleastfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

Customerswhoareblind,haveadisability,orwhoare62yearsorolderwhoseremaininghouseholdmembersareblind,haveadisability,are62yearsorolder,or18yearsoryoungeraregiventelephoneorpersonalnoticeatleast72hoursbeforedisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.FortwoweeksencompassingChristmasandNewYear’sDay,nodisconnectionsmayoccur.DuringtheperiodofNovember1–April15,theutilitymustprovidephoneorpersonalnoticeatleast72hoursinadvanceofthedisconnection.Attimeofdisconnectiontheutilityemployeemustattempttodetermineifadisconnectionwillcausecustomerorhouseholdmemberstosufferaseriousimpairmenttohealthorsafety.Nodisconnectionforuptofifteendaysiftheemployeedeterminesitwillcauseaseriousimpairment.UtilitymustreportthisfindingtotheCommission,whowilldetermineifdisconnectionisallowedfollowingthefifteendays.

TemperatureBasedProtection None

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsallowed8:00am–4:00pmMonday–Thursday.Nodisconnectionsthedaybeforeordayofalegalholiday,oronadaywhentheutilityisclosedtothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.Bothdeferredpaymentagreementsandbudgetbillingplansareavailabletocustomersinaccordancewiththeirfinancialneed.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Certificationmayberenewedforanadditionalthirtyorsixtydaysatthediscretionofthecommission.

OtherProtections Specialrequirementsfortwo-familydwellingsthatareservedbyasinglemeter.

UtilitymustsurveyalldisconnectedcustomersbeforeNovember1todetermineifthecustomermaysufferaseriousimpairmenttohealthorsafetyfromacontinuedlackofservice.Iftheutilitydeterminesthatacustomerorresidentislikelytosufferaseriousimpairment,itwillrestoreserviceimmediately.

NORTHCAROLINA

Source 4N.C.ADMIN.CODE11.R8-20,11.R12-8,11.R12-10(gas),11.R12-11(electricity)

Notice Noticemustbeprovidedtocustomeratleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalortelephonenoticemustbegiven24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalcontactmustbeattempteddirectlybeforedisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionswithoutapprovalofthecommissionforlow-incomecustomerswhosehouseholdhasamemberwhoisatleast65yearsoldorhasadisability.

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DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidays,oronthedaybeforealegalholiday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Availabletoanycustomerwhoisunabletopaythefullamount.Paymentinstallmentsmaybemadeforuptosixmonths.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Alsohasadisconnectionfeeof$1.00whenautilitydispatchesanemployeetothepropertytodisconnecttheservice.

OtherProtections Noelectricitydisconnectionswithoutreviewandorderbyasupervisor.

NORTHDAKOTA

Source N.D.ADMIN.CODE69-09-01-18.1(gas),69-09-02-05.1(electricity)

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalnoticemustbegiventocustomersaged65orolderorcustomerswithadisability.Nofurthernoticeisrequiredtoacustomerwhodefaultsonapaymentplan.



DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionafter12:00pmonanyday.NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidays,orthedaybeforelegalholidays.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplanavailabletoanycustomerwhoisunabletopaythefullamount.


OtherProtections Utilitiesmustannuallysendsurveystocustomerstoascertainhouseholdswithresidents65yearsorolder,residentswithdisabilities,andresidentswithseriousmedicalconditions.Surveymustalsobedistributedtonewcustomers.

OHIO

Source OHIOADMIN.CODE4901:1-18-05,4901:1-18-06,4901:1-18-07,4901:1-18-12,4901:1-18-13,4901:1-18-16,4901:1-18-17.PublicUtilityCommissionofOhioReconnectOrder(issuedannually).

Notice Noticemustbemailedatleastfourteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalnoticemustbeattemptedimmediatelybeforedisconnection.Ifpersonalnoticeisnotpossible,writtennoticemustbeconspicuouslypostedontheproperty.

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DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April15thenoticeperiodisextendedby10days,withanadditionalmailednotice.Allcustomersnotcurrentlyonapaymentplanareofferedawinterprotectionperiodpaymentplanpriortothebeginningofthisperiod.


DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionallowedbefore12:30pmonanydaywhentheutilityisopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.PercentageofIncomePaymentPlan(PIPP)programinplaceforeligiblecustomers.Customerbilledthegreaterof6%ofhouseholdincomeor$10.Anydelinquentcustomeriseligibleforotherpaymentplans.1/6thplandividesarrearagesintosixpaymentsinadditiontofullpaymentofcurrentbill.1/9thplandividesarrearagesintoninemonthlypaymentswithbudgetpaymentsoncurrentbills.Winterprotectionperiod1/3rdpaymentplanisofferedtoallcustomersnotalreadyonapaymentplan.Thisplanallowsacustomertopay1/3rdofarrearagesandcurrentbillduringeachbillingperiod.Utilitymayacceptacustomer’sproposedpaymentplan.Budgetpaymentplansavailableforcustomerswithoutarrearages.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionbythirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Certificationmayberenewedtwiceinatwelve-monthperiod.Paymentplanrequiredattheexpirationofthecertification.

OKLAHOMA

Source OKLA.ADMIN.CODE§§165:35-21-2,165:35-21-10,165:35-21-31(electricity),165:45-11-11,165:45-11-13,165:45-11-14,165:45-11-16,165:45-11-17,165:45-11-19(gas)

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedordeliveredtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Duringthewinterprotectionperiod,autilitymustprovideasecondnoticetothecustomerbyphone,inperson,orbymail48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifacustomerdefaultsonapaymentplanandpreviousnoticeshaveexpired,theutilitywillprovidenoticeofdisconnectionatleast24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifpreviousnoticeshavenotexpired,nonoticeisrequired.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–April15asecondnoticeisrequired.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Ifutilityisusedforheating,nodisconnectionsonadaywherethehighdaytimetemperatureis32ºForbelow,ortheforecastednighttimelowwillbe20ºForbelow.Ifutilityisusedforcooling,nodisconnectionifthetemperatureonthedayofdisconnectionis101ºForabove.

DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsduringthelasttwohoursofthebusinessday,onlegalholidays,onweekends,orafter12:00pmonFridays.

PaymentPlans Yes.Utilityisrequiredtoofferadeferredpaymentagreementtoanycustomerwhocannotmakeafullpayment.


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MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertificationandentryintoapaymentplan.Certificationmayberenewedonceforanadditionalthirtydays.Customermaymakeadditionalmedicalcertificationclaimsafterpaymenthasbeenmadeinfullonthebalancefromapreviousmedicalcertificationclam.

OtherProtections Customerswithdisabilitiesorage65oroldermayrequestthatthecommissionalsobenotifiedoftheirscheduleddisconnectionpriortosuchdisconnection.

“TheCommissionshallhavetheauthoritytoorderatemporarybanonanyoralldisconnectionsduringperiodsofextremelysevereweatherorwhencircumstancesexistsuchthatdisconnectioncouldcreateasituationdangeroustothelifeorhealthofconsumersortoproperty.”

Disconnectionmaybedelayedforatleast20dayswhenacustomerhasappliedfor,buthasnotyetreceivedfederalorstatefinancialassistance.

OREGON

Source OR.ADMIN.R.860-021-0328,860-021-0405,860-021-0410,860-021-0414,860-021-0415

Notice Writtennoticemustbepersonallydeliveredormailedfifteendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Secondnoticemustbemailedordeliveredfivedaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalnoticemustbeattemptedimmediatelybeforethedisconnection,andifnopersonalcontactismade,noticemustbepostedonthepremises.Ifcustomerisremotelydisconnectedwithoutpersonalcontactonthedayofthescheduleddisconnection,theutilitymustcallthecustomeratleasttwiceadayforthreeconsecutivedaysbeforeproceedingwiththedisconnection.Atleastonecallmustbemadebetweenboth8:00am–5:00pmand6:00pm–8:00pm.



PaymentPlans Yes.Customersatriskofdisconnectionmayenterintoa“time-paymentagreement.”Customersundertime-paymentagreementsmustbegiventhechoicebetweenalevelizedplanoranequal-payplan.Underalevelizedplan,thecustomerwillpay1/12oftheyearlybillandthearrearageseverymonthfortwelvemonths.Underanequal-paytime-paymentagreement,thecustomerwillpay1/12ofthearrearagesandthenormalfullmonthlybill.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Reconnectionfeeand“afterhoursreconnectionfee”forreconnectionafterutilitybusinesshours.Maychargemoreforsame-day,afterhoursreconnection.

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforuptosixmonthsforacertifiedillness,oruptotwelvemonthsforacertifiedchronicillness.Certificationsmayberenewed.Certifiedcustomerswitharrearagesarerequiredtoenterapaymentplan.

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OtherProtections Whenutilitybelieves—basedonphoneorinpersoncontact—thatthecustomerdoesnotunderstandtheconsequencesofthescheduleddisconnection,thedisconnectionispostponedforfivebusinessdays,andtheutilitymustnotifyboththeDepartmentofHumanServicesandtheCommission.

PENNSYLVANIA

Source 52PA.CODE§§56.82,56.91,56.93,56.94,56.96,56.97,56.99,56.10056.111,56.112,56.113,56.114,56.116,56.117

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedatleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Personalorphonenoticemustbeattemptedatleastthreedaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifcontactbyphoneisunsuccessful,theutilityisobligatedtoattemptpersonalcontact.Ifpersonalcontactisunsuccessful,theutilityisrequiredtopostanoticeofdisconnection.Utilityemployeemustattemptpersonalnoticeimmediatelybeforedisconnection.December–Marchautilitymustpostanoticeofdisconnectionatthecustomer’sresidence48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection,unlesspersonalcontacthasbeenmadewiththecustomer.Apost-disconnectionnoticeandmedicalcertificationformmustbepostedordeliveredtothecustomerfollowingdisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.December1–March31,nodisconnectionsforresidentialcustomerswithincomesatorbelow250%oftheFederalpovertylevel.WithinninetydaysofDecember1,utilitymustattempttomakecontactwithallcustomerswhowerepreviouslydisconnectedtoworkoutapaymentplanforreconnection.


DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday–Fridayaslongastheutilityisabletoacceptpaymenttoreconnectonthedayofdisconnectionorthefollowingday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Nodisconnectionifcustomerentersandabidesbyapaymentagreement.

ReconnectionCharge Yes

MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforuptothirtydayswithmedicalcertificationandpaymentplan.Ifcustomerabidesbythepaymentplan,thecustomeriseligibleforcontinualrenewalsofthecertification.Ifcustomerfailstomakepayments,thecustomeriseligibleforonlyonerenewal.Thecustomermaybegivenanewcertificationuponcompletepaymentofarrearages.

RHODEISLAND

Source 53-1R.I.CODER.§§15:II;15:III3(C),3(E),3(F),4,5,6;15:IV3,4;15:V

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedatleast10daysbeforeascheduleddisconnection.Thenoticemaybeposted,ormailedandposted.

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DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April15nodisconnectionsforprimaryheatingaccountswitharrearagesoflessthan$500,orotheraccountswitharrearagesoflessthan$200.Nodisconnectionsforaprotectedstatuscustomer.UtilitymaynotterminateanycustomerwithoutfilinganaffidavitwiththeDivisionofPublicUtilitiesandCarriersatleastforty-eighthoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenthereisaheatadvisoryorexcessiveheatwarningineffect.

DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidays,daysbeforelegalholidays,orwhentheutilityisnotopentothepublicforregularbusiness.

PaymentPlans Yes.Availabletoallcustomersatanytime.Paymentplanlevelstheamountpaidoveratenortwelve-monthperiodintoequalinstallments.Differentpaymentplansareavailableforprotectedstatuscustomers,low-incomecustomers,andallothercustomers.Whileenrolledinapaymentplan,nodisconnectionmayoccurunlessthecustomerviolatesaruleoftheutility.


OtherProtections PermissionoftheDivisionofPublicUtilitiesandCarriersisneededbeforeautilitymaydisconnectahouseholdwhereanymemberhasadisabilityorwherealladultmembersare62yearsorolder.Nodisconnectionwhenachildyoungerthan2residesinthehouseandthecustomerwasnotpreviouslydisconnectedbeforethebirthofthechild.

SOUTHCAROLINA

Source S.C.CODEANN.§§58-5-1110(gas),58-27-2510(electricity).S.C.CODEANN.REGS.103-342,103-352(electricity),103-442,103-452(gas)

Notice Noticemustbemailedatleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Noticemustbeprovidedbyphoneorinpersonwithintwobusinessdaysofthescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.December–Marchforcustomerswithmedicalcertification.


DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday–Thursdaybetween8:00am–4:00pm.Nodisconnectiononthedayofordaybeforeautility’scollectionofficesareclosed.

PaymentPlans Yes.Nodisconnectionwithenrollmentandadherenceinadeferredpaymentplan.


MedicalProtections NodisconnectionDecember-Marchforacustomerwithmedicalcertificationwhoisunabletopaythroughaninstallmentplan.Certificationlaststhirtydaysandmayberenewedthreetimes.

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SOUTHDAKOTA

Source S.D.ADMIN.R.20:10:20:03,20:10:20:06,20:10:20:07,20:10:20:10

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedordeliveredtoacustomeratleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection

Yes.November1-March31customersaregivenanadditional30daysbeforedisconnection.


DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFriday,Weekends,anylegalholidays,oranydayswhentheutilityservicesarenotopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.

MedicalProtections Disconnectionpostponedforthirtydayswithamedicalcertification.Norenewalsareallowed.

TENNESSEE

Source TENN.COMP.R.&REGS.1220-04-04-.19(electricity),1220-04-05-.18(gas)

Notice Reasonablenoticemustbeprovided.



PaymentPlans Yes.Availableforcustomerswhoare“temporarilyunabletopaytheirbills.”


TEXAS

Source 16TEX.ADMIN.CODE§§7.460(gas),25.29(electricity),291.88

Notice WrittennoticemustbemailedordeliveredinEnglishandSpanishbeforethescheduleddisconnection.


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TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenthetemperaturedoesnotexceed32ºFwhenthetemperaturealsodidnotexceed32ºFonthepreviousday.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenthereisaheatadvisoryissuedforthecounty,andanadvisorywasalsoissuedoneitheroftheprevioustwodays.

DisconnectionLimitations Nodisconnectionsonadayordaybeforetheutilityisnotopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.Paymentplansavailableatalltimesoftheyear.Paymentsaccruedduringanextremeweatheremergencyaredeferreduntiltheemergencyisover.Utilitiesmustprovidepaymentplanstohelpcustomers


MedicalProtections Disconnectionpostponedwithmedicalcertification.Maybedisconnectedifthepostponedbillisnotpaidbytheendofthefollowingbillingcycle,andcustomerhasnotenteredintoapaymentplan.

UTAH

Source UTAHADMIN.CODEr.R746-200

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedbymailordeliverytendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Atleast48hoursbeforescheduleddisconnection,theutilitymustprovideasecondnoticebymail,phone,orinperson.PersonalcontactisrequiredOctober1–March31.Writtennoticeprovidedtoacustomerwithlifesupportdevicemedicalcertificationmustbemailedordeliveredatleastthirtydaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.October1–March31personalnoticerequired.


DisconnectionLimitations DisconnectionsallowedMonday9:00am–Thursday4:00pm.Nodisconnectionsonlegalholidaysorondayswhentheutilityservicesarenotopentothepublic.

PaymentPlans Yes.Deferredpaymentprogramswhenanapplicantcannotpayanoutstandingdebtinfull.Utilitiespermittedtohavebudgetpaymentplansorequalpaypaymentplans.


MedicalProtections Medicalcertificationpostponesdisconnectionforthelesserofonemonthorthedurationofthemedicalcertification.Postponementformedicalcertificationmaybeusedtwiceinacalendaryear.Acustomerwithalifesupportdevicemedicalcertificationreceives30daysofadditionalnoticebeforedisconnection.

VERMONT

62

Source 18-1VT.CODER.§§4:3.301,4:3.302,4:3.303,4:3.304,4:3.305,4:3.306,31:11

Notice Writtennoticemustbeprovidedbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifmailed,itshouldbesentfivedaysbeforescheduleddisconnection.Ifdelivered,itshouldbeposted72hoursbeforescheduleddisconnection.Personalnoticerequired48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnectionduringNovember1–March31.Postednoticeorpersonalnoticeisrequiredatthetimeofdisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–March31nodisconnectionswithoutpersonaloralnoticeatleast48hoursinadvanceofdisconnection.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenitwillbebelow10ºFonthedayofdisconnectionorthefollowingday.Nodisconnectionsforhouseholdswithamember62yearsorolderwhenthetemperaturewillbebelow32ºFonthedayofdisconnectionorthefollowingday.

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsallowedbetween8:00am–2:00pmiftheutility’sbusinesshoursextenduntil5:00pm.Disconnectionsallowedbetween8:00am–5:00pmiftheutility’sbusinesshoursextenduntil8:00pm.

PaymentPlans Yes.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Medicalcertificationmaybeconsecutivelyrenewedonce.MedicalcertificationforpostponementorreconnectionmaynotbeusedmorethanthreetimesinacalendaryearwithoutwrittenpermissionfromtheCommission.

VIRGINIA

Source VA.CODEANN.§56-247.120Va.Admin.Code5-330-40(electricity)

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedatleasttendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.




MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthirtydayswithmedicalcertification.Postponedfortendaysbasedonwrittenororalreportingofmedicalconditiontoallowforamedicalcertificationtobesubmitted.Electricutilityisnotrequiredtoprovidetheten-daypostponementmorethanonceinacalendaryear.

WASHINGTON

63

Source WASH.ADMIN.CODE480-90-128,480-90-133,480-90-138,480-90-143(gas),480-100-128,480-100-133,480-100-138,480-100-143(electricity),365-100-010,365-100-030

Notice NoticemustbemailedatleasteightdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnectionifmailedfromwithinWashington,Oregon,orIdaho.Noticemustbemailedatleastelevendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnectionifmailedfromanyotherstate.Secondnoticemustbemadebymail,delivery,ortelephoneatleasttwobusinessdaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November15–March15.Nodisconnectionsforlow-incomecustomerswhoenterapaymentplan.


DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectiononWeekends,legalholidays,oranyotherdaywhenautilityisnotavailabletoreconnectservicethatdayorthefollowingday.

PaymentPlans Yes.Deferredpaymentplansavailabletopreventdisconnectionduring

winterprotectionperiod.Equal-paymentplansareavailabletoallcustomersatanytime.


MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforthelesserofsixtydaysorlengthofcertificationwithmedicalcertification.Customermustenterapaymentagreement.Utilitymaynotaskformorethan10%ofarrearagestobeginthepaymentplan.Medicalcertificationcanbeusedtwicewithinany120-dayperiod.

WESTVIRGINIA

Source W.VA.CODER.§§150-3-4(electricity),150-4-4(gas)

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Noticemustbemadeinpersonorbyphoneatleast24hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Writtennoticemustbemailedfivedaysbeforethescheduleddisconnectionforacustomerwhohasdefaultedonapaymentplan.

DateBasedProtection Yes.December1–February28(29)nodisconnectionswithouttheapprovalofamanageroftheutility.


PaymentPlans Yes.Deferredpaymentplansavailabletopreventdisconnection.Utilitiesmustrenegotiateapaymentplanifthecustomer’sfinancialsituationsignificantlychanges.

ReconnectionCharge Yes.Standardreconnectionchargeis$5.00.

64

MedicalProtections Ifacustomernotifiestheutilityofherinabilitytopayandinformstheutilitythatdisconnectionoftheservicewouldbeespeciallydangeroustothehealthorsafetyofamemberofherhousehold,thecustomerisentitledtomeetwithamanageroftheutilitybyphoneorinperson.Theutilityhasdiscretiontodisconnect,pendingcustomer’sappealtothecommission.Disconnectionmaybeprohibitedforthefollowinghealthorsafetyconsiderations:1)Householdswhereamemberhasamedicalcertification.Medicalcertificationmustberenewedeverythirtydays,unlessaphysiciancertifiesthattheconditionispermanent.2)ThetimeperiodfromDecember1-February28(29).3)theuseoftheutilityforlife-supportingequipment.

OtherProtections Nodisconnectionwithoutthird-partynoticeforcustomers65yearsorolder,orcustomerswithdisabilities.

WISCONSIN

Source WIS.ADMIN.CODEPSC§§113.012,113.0301,113.0303,113.0304(electricity),134.02,134.062,134.0623,134.0624(gas)

Notice Writtennoticemustbemailedordeliveredtendaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Ifthedisconnectiondoesnottakeplacewithintwentydaysofthedatelistedonthewrittennotice,anadditionalnoticemustbeleftonthepremises24–48hoursbeforethescheduleddisconnection.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April15nodisconnectionsforcustomerswhosehouseholdincomeisatorbelow250%ofthefederalpovertyguidelines.Nodisconnectionsforthosewithmedicalcertification,theelderly,thosewithdisabilities,oryoungchildren.Burdenofproofthatdisconnectionisallowedisontheutility.Management-levelemployeemustapprovealldisconnectionsduringthisperiod.Bytheendofthedayfollowingadisconnection,autilitymustprovideafollow-upvisittocheckfordangerstohealthorsafetyforanymemberofthehousehold.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectioninacountyonadaywhenaheatadvisory,heatwarning,orheatemergencyisineffect.

DisconnectionLimitations NodisconnectionsonFridays,weekends,legalholidays,oranyotherdaywhentheutilityisnotavailabletoreconnectservices.Notapplicableifutilityprovidestheseservices24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek.



MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionforuptotwenty-onedayswithmedicalcertificationorotherprotectivecertification(elderlyandyoungchildren).Customermustenterintoapaymentplan.

OtherProtections “Iftheutilitybecomesawarethatthereareextenuatingcircumstances,suchasinfirmitiesofaging,developmental,mentalorphysicaldisabilities,theuseoflifesupportsystems,orlikeinfirmitiesincurredatanyage,orthefrailtiesassociatedwithbeingveryyoung,theutilityshalltakethesecircumstancesintoconsiderationpriortodisconnectingservice.”

65

WYOMING

Source WYO.ADMIN.CODE§PSCPSCRCh.3§§9,10

Notice Noticemustbeprovidedtothecustomeratleastsevencalendardaysbeforethescheduleddisconnection.Noticemaybecompletedbymail,inperson,oroverthephone.Anadditionalnoticemaybeprovidedelectronically.Noticeinpersonorbyphonemustbeattemptedbeforeadisconnectionduringwinterprotectionperiod.

DateBasedProtection Yes.November1–April30additionalnoticebyphoneorinpersonisrequiredbeforedisconnection.NodisconnectionsfromDecember24–January2.

TemperatureBasedProtection Yes.Nodisconnectionsondayswhenitisforecastedtobebelow32ºFanytimeinthefollowing48hours.Temperatureprotectionappliesonlyforcustomerswhoareeligibleforgovernmentassistanceorwhoareonlyabletopayforserviceininstallments.

DisconnectionLimitations Disconnectionsbetween8:00am–4:00pmMonday–Thursday.Nodisconnectionsonlegalholidays,thedaybeforelegalholidays,oronanyotherdaywhentheutilityisnotopentothepublic.



MedicalProtections Postponementofdisconnectionfor15dayswithmedicalcertification.

OtherProtections Utilitiesmustassistcustomerswhoareelderlyorwhohaveadisabilityandwhoareunabletopaytheirutilitybillswithdeterminingavailablegovernmentassistance.

66

ENDNOTES

1Seee.g.,MICH.ADMIN.CODEr.460.137(2016)(permittingdisconnectionofacustomerfornonpayment,failuretoprovidea

2Ibid.

3Hernández,Diana."Sacrificealongtheenergycontinuum:acallforenergyjustice."EnvironmentalJustice8,no.4(2015):151-156.4Ibid.

5DeneenLBrownMaryPatFlahertyJohnWoodrowCox."CarbonMonoxideBlamedafterFatherandHis7ChildrenDieinTheirSleep."TheWashingtonPost,April8,2015.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-37832793.html?refid=easy_hf.6Ibid.

7"PowerShutOff:CandleTriggersBlaze;10Killed."TheEveningNews(Beacon,NY),May15,1982.AccessedDecember28,2016.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19820515&id=AYRGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mTINAAAAIBAJ&pg=1950,1867982&hl=en.8UtilitySaysItFollowedRulesinShuttingOffService,DAILYTRIBUNE(May1,2015),http://www.dailytribune.com/general-news/20150501/utility-says-it-followed-rules-in-shutting-off-service;Seealso,KhalilAlHajal,RelativeofJohnMorganShocked

OverPowerDisconnectionthatCameDaysBeforeFlintSenior’sDeath,MLIVE(Feb.21,2012),http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/02/relative_of_john_morgan_shocke.html;SusanCandiotti,ManWhoFroze

HadHistoryofLateUtilityPayments,CNN(Feb.19,2009),http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/19/michigan.freezing.death/index.html?iref=nextin;JohnKass,ElderlyWomanDiesAfter

GasShutOff,CHICAGOTRIBUNE(Jan.22,1985),http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-01-22/news/8501050026_1_gas-service-peoples-gas-light-three-other-deaths.9Jones,Shannon."DETROITERSDEMANDENDTOUTILITYSHUT-OFS."VoiceofDetroit,March14,2011.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/03/20/detroiters-demand-end-to-utility-shut-offs-mar-12/.10"Officials:CandlesLikelyCauseOfFireThatKilled3YoungBoysInTheBronxNeighbors:MomUsedCandlesAfterElectricityHadBeenTurnedOffDueToNonpayment."CBSNewYork,October26,2013.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/26/police-candles-likely-caused-fire-that-killed-3-young-boys-in-the-bronx/.11Norlander,Gerry."CandleFires:ASymptomof"RollingBlackouts"AffectingLow-IncomeHouseholds."CandleFires:ASymptomof"RollingBlackouts"AffectingLow-IncomeHouseholds.September05,2006.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://pulpnetwork.blogspot.com/2006/09/candle-fires-symptom-of-rolling.html.12Ishimaru,Heather."FAIRFIELDFAMILYHADPOWERSHUTOFF."ABC7NewsSanFrancisco-Oakland-SanJose,April30,2010.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://abc7news.com/archive/7416709/.13PennsylvaniaPublicUtilityCommission,2015GasandElectricColdWeatherSurveyResults(Dec.22,2015),http://www.puc.pa.gov/General/publications_reports/pdf/Cold_Weather_Results_2015.pdf.14ThomasGaist,“EnergycompaniescontinueutilityshutoffsasbittercoldhitsDetroit,”InternationalCommitteeoftheFourth

International,2014,https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/01/28/dtes-j28.html.15Guy,Michael,andAzadehAnsari."Nextblastofarcticairwillbringmoreblisteringcoldtemperatures."CNN,December16,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.16"ClimateChangeImpacts."EPA.December20,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.https://www.epa.gov/climate-impacts.17"TheStateofHomelessnessinAmerica2016."NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness.April06,2016.AccessedJanuary03,2017.http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/SOH2016.18"TheHottestCitiesinU.S.vs.theFastestWarming."ClimateCentral:AScience&NewsOrganization.July19,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.climatecentral.org/news/fastest-warming-cities-2053519"U.S.FacesDramaticRiseinExtremeHeat,Humidity."ClimateCentral:AScience&NewsOrganization.July13,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.climatecentral.org/news/sizzling-summers-20515.20"HotandGettingHotter:HeatIslandsCookingU.S.Cities."ClimateCentral:AScience&NewsOrganization.August20,2014.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.climatecentral.org/news/urban-heat-islands-threaten-us-health-17919.21Shockman,Elizabeth."Willheatwavescausemoredeathsastheclimatewarms?"PublicRadioInternational.July23,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-07-23/will-heat-waves-cause-more-deaths-climate-warms.22"NationalClimateAssessment."NationalClimateAssessment.2014.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report.23Ibid.24Henderson,BrianHolton."HypocrisyandCronyisminthe'Sunshine'State."TheHuffingtonPost.July16,2014.AccessedJanuary03,2017.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-holton-henderson/florida-solar_b_5574755.html.

67

25Kaiser,Brian."EnvironmentalGroupExposesFirstEnergyHypocrisyonCleanEnergyinNewlyLaunchedDigitalAds."OhioEnvironmentalCouncil.March09,2016.AccessedJanuary03,2017.http://www.theoec.org/press-releases/environmental-group-exposes-firstenergy-hypocrisy-clean-energy-newly-launched-digital.26"BrownSky:TheTruthAboutHowRockyMountainPowerObstructsRenewableEnergy."HEALUtah.August07,2015.AccessedJanuary03,2017.http://www.healutah.org/BrownSky/.27EnergyJusticeNetwork,“CedarPowerProject,”2016,http://www.energyjustice.net/map/displayfacilityadvanced-68910.htm.28Ibid.

29Warrick,Joby."Utilitieswagecampaignagainstrooftopsolar."WashingtonPost(2015).30Sforza,Teri."Watchdog:Californiautilitiesspendlotsofpublic'smoneytoinfluencestatepolitics."OrangeCountyRegister,October25,2015.AccessedJanuary4,2017.http://www.ocregister.com/articles/political-689074-public-million.html.31ThomasGaist,“EnergycompaniescontinueutilityshutoffsasbittercoldhitsDetroit,”InternationalCommitteeoftheFourth

International,2014,https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/01/28/dtes-j28.html.32BetsyWebsterandNickSloan,“OverlandParkmanhelpingneighborwithoutpowersayshewasthreatenedbyKCP&L,”KCTV,2016,http://www.kctv5.com/story/32297060/overland-park-man-helping-neighbor-without-power-says-he-was-threatened-by-kcpl.33EnergyJusticeNetwork,“ShawneeMissionMedicalCenter,”2016,http://www.energyjustice.net/map/displayfacilityadvanced-72570.htm.34TheEditorialBoard,“AboutThat93-Year-OldManWhoFrozetoDeath,”TheNewYorkTimes,2009,http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/about-that-93-year-old-man-who-froze-to-death/?_r=1.35ChristineMetz,“Utilitycutoffsalife-or-deathmatterforEudoracouplerecoveringfromhousefire,”LawrenceJournal-World,

2011,http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/feb/27/utility-cutoffs-can-be-life-or-death-matter/.36L.M.Sixel,“Lawsuitsayspowercutoffwasfataltomanonoxygen,”HoustonChronicle,2016,http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Family-sues-power-company-claiming-electricity-6791350.php#photo-9318593.37EnergyJusticeNetwork,“CedarPowerProject,”2016,http://www.energyjustice.net/map/displayfacilityadvanced-68910.htm.38Seee.g.,MICH.ADMIN.CODEr.460.137(2016)(permittingdisconnectionofacustomerfornonpayment,failuretoprovidea

deposit,engaginginunauthorizeduseoftheutilityservice,refusingtoallowaccesstoutilityequipmentinstalledonthepremises,misrepresentinghisorheridentityattheoutsetofservice,andviolatinganyutilityrulesapprovedofbythecommission).39SeeAppendixAinfrap.25forasurveyofdisconnectionpoliciesfromallfiftystatesandtheDistrictofColumbia.

40SeeIbid.

41Ibid.

42Munnv.PeopleofStateofIllinois,94U.S.113,126,24L.Ed.77(1876).43SeeEricFilipink,Servingthe“PublicInterest”–Traditionalvs.ExpansiveUtilityRegulation,NAT’LREG.RES.INST.,December30,

2009at3,10.44CHARLESF.PHILLIPS,JR.,THEREGULATIONOFPUBLICUTILITIES:THEORYANDPRACTICE87(PublicUtilitiesReports,Inc.,3rded.1993).45Filipinksupranote33at11;HEMPLINGsupranote30at3-4(notingthatsomecommissionsreceivetheirpowersdirectlyfromconstitutions).46SeeFilipinksupranote33at3.

47Ibid.at12-13.

48Ibid.at14.

49Ibid.;seegenerally,NAACPv.FPC,425U.S.662(1976).

50Filipinksupranote33at14.;seegenerally,Ark.Elec.Co-operativeCorp.v.Ark.Pub.Serv.Comm’n,461U.S.375.51SeeFilipinksupranote33at14.

52infrap.25.

53See,e.g.3830PURUtil.Reg.News1(“Also,associatedwiththecostofthelineextensionfacilitiesthatgointotheutility'sratebasearecostsforsuchthingsasdepreciation,return,incometaxes,propertytaxes,O&Mcosts,administrativeandgeneralcosts,andfranchisefeesanduncollectibles.”);ThomasK.Schmieder,MeasuringtheCostofLate-PayingCustomers,PUB.UTIL.FORT.,January181990,at25(“Late-payingcustomersarebeingsubsidizedbythosecustomerswhopayontime.”).54DePanfilis,Diane.Childneglect:Aguideforprevention,assessment,andintervention.USDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,AdminsitrationforChildrenandFamilies,AdministrationonChildren,YouthandFamilies,Children'sBureau,OfficeonChildAbuseandNeglect,2006.55Fridersdorf,Conor."WhentheStateTakesKidsAwayFromParents:ThreePerspectives."TheAtlantic.July24,2014.AccessedJanuary25,2017.http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/07/when-the-state-gets-between-kids-and-parents-3-radically-different-perspectives/374954/.

68

56SeegenerallySchmieder,MeasuringtheCostofLate-PayingCustomerssupranote27.

57SeeKnauss,WhyisNationalGridShuttingOffSoManyHomesforNonpaymentThisSummer?And5OtherQuestionssupra

note16(“[thedirectorofcreditandcollectionsforNewYorkelectriccompany]isacutelyawareofthehazardscustomersfaceiftheyprovidetheirownlightandheatwithcandles,generatorsorkeroseneheaters.‘Itkeepsmeupatnight,’hesaid.”).58SCOTTHEMPLING,REGULATINGPUBLICUTILITYPERFORMANCE:THELAWOFMARKETSTRUCTURE,PRICINGANDJURISDICTION,2-3(2013).59Ishimaru,Heather.“FairfieldFamilyHadPowerShutOff.”April30,2016.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://abc7news.com/archive/7416709/.60AmericanCoalitionforCleanCoalElectricity,“EnergyCostImpactsonAmericanFamilies,”2015,http://www.americaspower.org/sites/default/files/Trisko-National-Family-Energy-Costs-June-2015-FINAL.PDF.61SeeFigure1infrap.21.Figure1iscompiledfromdatafromthemostrecentResidentialEnergyConsumptionSurvey:

U.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,TABLECE1.1:SUMMARYHOUSEHOLDSITECONSUMPTIONANDEXPENDITURESINTHEU.S.–TOTALSANDINTENSITIES(2012),https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/index.php?view=consumption#summary.62SeeFigures2-3infrapp.21-22.Figures2-3arecompiledfromdatafromU.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,NOVEMBER2016MONTHLY

ENERGYREVIEW85,123(2016),http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/archive/00351611.pdf.Naturalgasandelectricityarethemostcommonutilitiesusedtoheatandcoolhomes.SeeU.S.EnergyInfo.Admin.,EverywherebutNortheast,FewerHomesChooseNaturalGasasHeatingFuel(2014),http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=18131.63SeeU.S.EnergyInfo.Admin.,NewerU.S.Homesare30%LargerbutConsumeAboutasMuchEnergyasOlderHomes(2013),

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=9951;Figure4infrap.22.Figure4iscompiledfromdatafromthemostrecentResidentialEnergyConsumptionSurvey:TABLECE1.1supranote6.64Drehobl,Ariel,andLaurenRoss."LiftingtheHighEnergyBurdeninAmerica’sLargestCities:HowEnergyEfficiencyCanImproveLowIncomeandUnderservedCommunities."InAmericanCouncilforanEnergyEfficientEconomy.2016.65TABLECE1.1supranote6.66SeeDanielSimmons-Ritchie,AsUtilityDisconnectionsHaveRiseninPA,AreMorePeopleDying?,PennLive(Feb.25,2016),

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/02/as_utility_disconnections_have_risen.html;TimKnauss,AlarmedbyRisingUtility

Disconnections,NYRegulatorsLaunchReviewofLow-IncomeAssistancePrograms,THEPOST-STANDARD(Jan.8,2015),http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/alarmed_by_rising_utility_disconnections_ny_regulators_launch_review_of_low-income_ass.html.67SeeFigures4-5infrap.23compilingdatafromColumbiaGasofOhio,AnnualReportofServiceDisconnectionsfor

Nonpayment(Jun.18,2015),http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A15F18B04321A88891.pdf;DominionEastOhio,AnnualReportofServiceDisconnectionsforNonpayment(Jun.24,2015),http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A15F24B31136J00420.pdf;TheClevelandElec.IlluminatingCo.,AnnualReportofServiceDisconnectionsforNonpayment(Jun.29,2015),http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A15F29B13823D00352.pdf;OrwellNat.Gas,AnnualReportofServiceDisconnectionsforNonpayment(Aug.6,2015),http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/TiffToPDf/A1001001A15H06A93752J00358.pdf.ClevelandwasonecityofinterestidentifiedbytheNAACPforreview,andOhioisonestatethatrequirestheannualreportingofdisconnectionsduetononpaymentpursuanttoOHIOREV.CODE§4933.123(2016).68SeeIbid.

69Oakland,C.A."Energy,Economics,andtheEnvironment:EffectsonAfricanAmericans."(2004).70Ibid.71Ibid.72Ibid.73Choate,Jo-ann,andMarkWolfe."2009nationalenergyassistancesurvey."Washington,DC:nationalenergyassistance

Directors’association(2010).74PolicyAnalystattheNat’lConsumerLawCtr.,UnpublishedDisconnectionInformation,receivedfromMarcusFranklinoftheNAACPonOctober25,2016.Notably,theanalystcitestoinformationfromthe2009ResidentialEnergyConsumptionSurvey.Questionsonthesurveyaskspecificallyaboutarespondent’sneedfororuseofenergyassistanceprogramsforbothheatingandcoolingutilities;thesurveycollectsinformationregardingthenumberofdisconnectionnotices,numberofdaysacustomerremaineddisconnected,andwhetherornotmedicalattentionwasrequiredasaresultofthedisconnection.U.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,RESIDENTIALENERGYCONSUMPTIONSURVEY,89-94(2009),http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_457/archive/2009%20RECS%20457-A%20Household%20Survey.pdf.Thesurveyalsocollectsdataontheraceoftherespondents,andtracksthegeographiclocationofrespondents.Id.at84-85.Whilethisdatawascollectedinthesurvey,itwasnotreleasedinthepubliccopyofthesurveymicrodata.SeeU.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,PUBLICUSE

MICRODATA(2013),https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/index.php?view=microdata.Accessingamorecompletesetofmicrodatacollectedfromthissurveycouldassistadvocatesindeterminingaclearerpictureoftheracialdisparitythathasbeenidentifiedintheapplicationofdisconnectionpolicies.Theprevalenceofthisdisparity,andadditionalinformationaboutwhichstates,cities,orotherareasdemonstratethisdisparitycouldbeascertainedbasedontheinformation

69

collectedinthesurvey.Additionally,thereiscurrentlya2016ResidentialEnergyConsumptionSurveyavailablethataskssimilarquestionstothe2009version.U.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,RESIDENTIALENERGYCONSUMPTIONSURVEY,17-18(2016),http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_457/2015_EIA-475A_paper.pdf.Theresultsofthissurveyandaccesstothecompletesetofdatawouldbeespeciallyhelpfulforadvocatestoaccessbecauseitwouldgiveamorecurrentpicturethatmightbemorehelpfulforlegislatorsandregulatorstoconsiderwhenchoosingdisconnectionpolicies.75Ibid.

76Ibid.

77Ibid.

78U.S.EnergyInfo.Admin.,HeatingandCoolingNoLongerMajorityofU.S.HomeEnergyUse(2013),http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10271.79SeeFigures2-3infrapp.21-22.Figures2-3arecompiledfromdatafromU.S.ENERGYINFO.ADMIN.,NOVEMBER2016MONTHLY

ENERGYREVIEW85,123(2016),http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/archive/00351611.pdf.80SeeDeNeenL.Brown,MaryPatFlaherty&JohnWoodrowCox,CarbonMonoxideBlamedAfterFatherandHis7ChildrenDiein

TheirSleep,WASHINGTONPOST(Apr.7,2015),https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/grandparents-father-of-7-who-died-in-princess-anne-home-was-doing-his-best/2015/04/07/fa8debc2-dd14-11e4-be40-566e2653afe5_story.html?utm_term=.22c640ffbb02;TimKnauss,WhyisNationalGridShuttingOffSoManyHomesfor

NonpaymentThisSummer?And5OtherQuestions,THEPOST-STANDARD(Sept.7,2014),http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/why_national_grid_disconnections_for_nonpayment_are_peaking_at_80_per_hour_this_summe.html;Fatherand3KidsKilledbyCarbonMonoxidePoisoning,WILX(July16,2009),http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/50986627.html.81“SpaceHeatersInvolvedin79PercentofFatalHomeHeatingFires.”February11,2010.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/news-and-media/press-room/news-releases/2010/space-heaters-involved-in-79-percent-of-fatal-home-heating-fires.82SeeL.M.Sixel,LawsuitSaysPowerCutoffWasFataltoManonOxygen,HOUSTONCHRON.(Jan.28,2016),

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Family-sues-power-company-claiming-electricity-6791350.php;BrianR.Ballou,PowerisCut,aWomanDies,andFurorFollows,TheBostonGlobe(June262010),http://archive.boston.com/yourtown/salem/articles/2010/06/26/power_is_cut_nh_woman_dies_and_furor_follows/;Family

SuesUtilityOverMother’sDeathAfterPowerDisconnected,SOUTHBENDTRIB.(Jan.26,2007),http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2007-01-26/news/26767343_1_ipl-utility-worker-medical-devices.83SeeMemphisLight,Gas&WaterDiv.v.Craft,436U.S.1,98S.Ct.1554,56L.Ed.2d30(1978)(“autilitymaynotterminate

service“atwill”butonly“forcause,”andhencerespondentsasserta“legitimateclaimofentitlement”withintheprotectionoftheDueProcessClauseoftheFourteenthAmendment.”).84See,e.g.,NEV.ADMIN.CODE§704.360(2011).

854COLO.CODEREGS.§723-3:3408(2016).86HAW.CODER.§6-60-8(1981)(“TerminationshallnotoccuronSaturdays,Sundaysorholidaysobservedbytheutilityandshallbeplannedduringnormalutilityworkinghours.”).87See,e.g.,ALA.ADMIN.CODer.770-X-1-.12(2013)(“Wheneverserviceisdiscontinuedfornonpaymentandcustomerrequests

thatserviceberestored…areconnectionfee,intheamountauthorizedbytheCommissionforeachrespectiveutility,shallbeaddedtocustomer'sdelinquentaccount…andcanberequiredbytheutilitytobepaidbeforeserviceisrestored.”).88SeeSchmieder,MeasuringtheCostofLate-PayingCustomerssupranote27;IntheMatterofJacksonCty.FuelComm.,

PetitionsforMoratoriumofDisconnections&Disconnects.,14146,2014WL1762943,at*1(Apr.30,2014)(“Thesixenergyutilities'reconnectionchargesrangefrom$20to$32andonlypartiallycovertheutilities'coststoreconnectresidentialservice.”);W.G.Gas,Inc.,PetitiontoIncreaseReconnectionFee.,99-1539-G-T,2000WL36572195,at*1(Mar.14,2000).Butsee,DaveLieber,TheWatchdog:TexasElectricityCompaniesProfitfromFeesThatSomeCall‘MoneyforNothing’,TheDallasMorningNews(Aug.2013),http://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2013/08/10/the-watchdog-texas-electricity-companies-profit-from-fees-that-some-call-money-for-nothing.89See,e.g.,MICH.ADMIN.CODEr.460.1626(2016).

9039-1CODEMISS.R.§2:8(2011).91"WinterReconnectOrder:Maintainelectricandnaturalgasservice."WinterReconnectOrder:Maintainelectricandnaturalgasservice.AccessedJanuary24,2017.http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/be-informed/consumer-topics/winter-reconnect-order-maintain-electric-and-natural-gas-service/#sthash.zrQVrJLk.dpbs.92ARK.ADMIN.CODE§§126.03.2-6.04,126.03.2-6.09,126.03.2-6.13,126.03.2-6.15,126.03.2-6.1893"ConsumerInformation."UtilityServices|ConsumerInformation.August2012.AccessedJanuary25,2017.https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0220-utility-services.94"BillingRights."MarylandStatePublicServiceCommission-BillingRights.AccessedJanuary25,2017.http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/intranet/info/billingrights_new.cfm.

70

95"DepositsandConnectionFees|YourOwnUtilities."DepositsandConnectionFees|YourOwnUtilities.AccessedJanuary25,2017.https://www.talgov.com/you/you-customer-helpful-fees.aspx.9626DEL.ADMIN.CODE§3002-1.0(2016).97N.M.CODER.§17.5.410(2011)(“Autilityshallofferabudgetpaymentplantoitsresidentialcustomers….Thebudgetpaymentplanshallprovidetheresidentialcustomerwithamethodoflevelizingthebillforutilityservice.Itshallbedesignedtoavoidtheaccumulationofanunpaidbalancewhichwillbeburdensometopayinasinglepayment.”).98UTAHADMIN.CODEr.R746-200(2012).99ARK.ADMIN.CODE§126.03.2-6.15(2016).100OR.ADMIN.R.860-021-0405.(2009).101

Ibid.102

Ibid.103

Ibid.Theregulationrequiresthat:Attempttocontactthecustomerataserviceaddresswhereremotedisconnectcapabilityisinstalledviathetelephoneatleasttwiceadayforthethreeconsecutivedayspriortotheproposeddisconnection,andatleastonecallmustbeplacedduringthemorningorafternoon(8:00amto5:00pm)andanothercallplacedduringearlyevening(6:00pmto8:00pm).Whereanansweringmachineorserviceisavailable,theutilitymustleaveamessageattheendofeachcallingdayinformingthecustomeroftheproposeddisconnection.

1044COLO.CODEREGS.§723-3:3408(2016).105IOWAADMIN.CODEr.199-19.4(476)(2016).106Cheung,Jason."LandlordFailsToPayaUtilityBill."LandlordFailsToPayaUtilityBill|LegalMatchLawLibrary.April06,2015.AccessedFebruary17,2017.http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/landlord-fails-to-pay-a-utility-bill.html.107ARK.ADMIN.CODE§§126.03.2-6.04,126.03.2-6.09,126.03.2-6.13,126.03.2-6.15,126.03.2-6.1810853-1R.I.CODER.§15:III(2016).109

Ibid.110

Ibid.111

Ibid.InRhodeIsland,customerswhoqualifyforprotectedstatusincludeindividualswhoare,“unemployed,seriouslyill,elderly,handicappedorarecipientofLIHEAPfunds.”11252PA.CODE§56.461(2011).113PENNSYLVANIAPU.UTILITYCOMM.,PressReleases,(2014)http://www.puc.pa.gov/about_puc/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=3472.114R.I.Gen.Laws§20872016115"StateofRhodeIslandGeneralAssembly."StateofRhodeIslandGeneralAssembly.April26,2016.AccessedFebruary17,2017.http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=11705&Web=2bab1515-0dcc-4176-a2f8-8d4beebdf488.116220MASS.CODEREGS.25.03(2016).117

Ibid.118N.D.ADMIN.CODE69-09-02-05.1119Drehobl,Ariel,andLaurenRoss."LiftingtheHighEnergyBurdeninAmerica’sLargestCities:HowEnergyEfficiencyCanImproveLowIncomeandUnderservedCommunities."InAmericanCouncilforanEnergyEfficientEconomy.2016.120Ibid.121Harak,Charlie."UTILITIESADVOCACYFORLOW-INCOMEHOUSEHOLDSINMASSACHUSETTS."StayConnected.June2013.http://www.nclc.org/special-projects/stay-connected-training.html.122Ibid.123Drehobl,Ariel,andLaurenRoss."LiftingtheHighEnergyBurdeninAmerica’sLargestCities:HowEnergyEfficiencyCanImproveLowIncomeandUnderservedCommunities."InAmericanCouncilforanEnergyEfficientEconomy.2016.124"OccupantHealthBenefitsofResidentialEnergyEfficiency."E4TheFuture.(2014)125Adamkiewicz,Gary,AmiR.Zota,M.PatriciaFabian,TeresaChahine,RhonaJulien,JohnD.Spengler,andJonathanI.Levy."Movingenvironmentaljusticeindoors:understandingstructuralinfluencesonresidentialexposurepatternsinlow-incomecommunities."Americanjournalofpublichealth101,no.S1(2011):S238-S245.126Ibid.127“Top5ReasonstoBeEnergyEfficient,”AlliancetoSaveEnergy,November13,2013,accessedOctober19,2016,http://www.ase.org/resources/top-5-reasons-be-energy-efficient.128Ibid.129Kiker,Patrick."Report:"EnergyBurden"onLow-Income,AfricanAmerican,&LatinoHouseholdsuptoThreeTimesasHighasOtherHomes,MoreEnergyEfficiencyNeeded."Report:"EnergyBurden"onLow-Income,AfricanAmerican,&Latino

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HouseholdsuptoThreeTimesasHighasOtherHomes,MoreEnergyEfficiencyNeeded|ACEEE.April20,2016.AccessedJanuary06,2017.http://aceee.org/press/2016/04/report-energy-burden-low-income.130Farrell,John,andKarleeWeimann."Report:InclusiveFinancingforEfficiencyandRenewableEnergy."InstituteforLocalSelfReliance.November2016.AccessedJanuary06,2017.https://ilsr.org/report-inclusive-energy-financing/.131Ibid.132Ibid.133Hernández,Diana."Sacrificealongtheenergycontinuum:acallforenergyjustice."EnvironmentalJustice8,no.4(2015):151-156.134

Ibid.135AlliancetoSaveEnergy,“Top5ReasonsToBeEnergyEfficient,”2012,http://www.ase.org/resources/top-5-reasons-be-energy-efficient.136Walton,Robert."PayAsYouSave:Co-opsarereachingnewcustomerswithanovelwaytopayforefficiency."UtilityDive.August17,2016.AccessedJanuary06,2017.http://www.utilitydive.com/news/pay-as-you-save-co-ops-are-reaching-new-customers-with-a-novel-way-to-pay/424234/.137"BenefitsofRenewableEnergyUse."UnionofConcernedScientists.AccessedJanuary06,2017.http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-renewable-power#.WG_HRlUrKM8.138Campbell,RichardJ."Weather-relatedpoweroutagesandelectricsystemresiliency."CongressionalResearchService,LibraryofCongress,2012.139Bukowski,Diane.“DETROITERSDEMANDENDTOUTILITYSHUT-OFS.”March20,2011.AccessedDecember28,2016.http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/03/20/detroiters-demand-end-to-utility-shut-offs-mar-12/.140

Ibid.141"UtilityProjectUrgesSupremeCourttoReverseDecisionImpedingStateElectricPowerInitiativesandNottoEndorseDeregulation."NewYorksUtilityProjectTohelpeducatethepublicaboutitslegalrightsasutilityconsumers.December15,2015.AccessedJanuary07,2017.http://utilityproject.org/2015/12/15/utility-project-urges-supreme-court-to-reverse-decision-impeding-state-electric-power-initiatives/.142"AbouttheCampaign."OurPowerCampaign.2016.AccessedJanuary06,2017.http://www.ourpowercampaign.org/about.

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