Thread by @EPWDems

THREAD: As the economic fallout of the #COVID19 pandemic deepens, only 10 states and D.C. currently have moratoriums on utility disconnections to ensure residents are protected from disconnection of gas, electric, and water utilities service.

California
Delaware
D.C.
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina
Washington
Wisconsin

These are the only states fully protecting residents and ensuring #NoUtilityShutoffs.

Millions of Americans elsewhere are at risk of water, gas and electricity shutoffs.

22 states have taken steps that partially restrict or discourage utility disconnections. These measures offer residents some degree of protection from gas, electric and water service disconnections, but do not guarantee #NoUtilityShutoffs for all residents.

In Alaska, a moratorium on disconnections of water services will protect some water customers until November 15, but the moratorium does not apply to municipal utilities.

Nearly 70% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.
alaskapublic.org/2020/06/30/pro…

In Arizona, Governor Ducey announced an agreement with major electric providers to suspend electricity disconnections, but no statewide steps to prevent gas or water disconnections.

As scorching temperatures continue to rise, water bills are running high.
azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

The Arkansas Public Service Commission issued a #NoUtilityShutoffs order to privately-owned utilities in the state. It’s set to expire August 3.

Meanwhile, about 93% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility. arkansasonline.com/news/2020/jul/…

Connecticut is ensuring #NoUtilityShutoffs for gas, electric and water services, but those protections only apply to customers of privately owned utilities.

Nearly 64% of Connecticut’s residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.
ctmirror.org/2020/03/16/dur…

The Florida Public Service Commission announced that regulated electric utilities voluntarily suspended disconnections.

But in communities throughout the state, power companies resumed cutting off service to customers if bills have gone unpaid.
wflx.com/2020/07/09/uti…

In Illinois, 90% of residential water customers are left unprotected by the state’s order prohibiting #NoUtilityShutoffs for gas, electric, and water.

In some communities, water service disconnections already resumed earlier this month.
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-…

In Indiana, an EO signed in March to ensure #NoUtilityShutoffs has expired, but state regulators recently extended the moratorium until August 14.

Hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers relied on those moratoriums protections.
indystar.com/story/news/env…

Louisiana’s #NoUtilityShutoffs order only extends to privately owned gas, electric and water utilities and does not include municipal utilities.

77% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.

Water shutoffs have begun.
americanpress.com/news/local/lee…

The #NoUtilityShutoffs order in Massachusetts only extends to privately owned utilities.

Approximately 97% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.

Meanwhile, New England is preparing for a surge.
boston.cbslocal.com/2020/07/20/cor…

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently extended Michigan’s moratorium on water shutoffs through the end of 2020, but residents are not protected from gas and electricity disconnections.
cnn.com/2020/07/12/pol…

Imagine having a fever on a 100-degree day without clean water to drink or air conditioning to cool you down.

Minnesota is one of 22 states with only partial protections for water, gas or electric service shutoffs.
sctimes.com/story/news/loc…

As cases of COVID-19 eclipsed 20,000 in Nebraska, thousands of Nebraskans are also facing the looming threat of utility shut offs.
ktiv.com/2020/07/21/neb…

As Nevada continues to see a rise in COVID-19 cases, the state has not taken action to ensure #NoUtilityShutoffs. Shutting off water utilities could have dire consequences at a time when washing hands is crucial to the health and wellness of Nevadans.
8newsnow.com/news/local-new…

In New Jersey, Governor Murphy announced the voluntary suspension of utility shutoffs, but it’s unclear that municipal utilities are covered by that announcement.

Approximately 63% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.
nj.com/coronavirus/20…

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission issued a #NoUtilityShutoffs order to protect customers from losing gas, water and electric services, but its jurisdiction only extends to privately owned utilities.

nmpoliticalreport.com/2020/03/24/sta…

Ohio's #NoUtilityShutoffs EO was rescinded.

Columbia Gas said disconnections will start as soon as July 29.

American Electric Power plans to resume disconnections in September.

dispatch.com/business/20200…

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission informed @EPWDems that all regulated utilities have voluntarily agreed to suspend disconnections.

The city of Albany, which is not under the Commission’s jurisdiction, plans to resume water disconnections this month.
klcc.org/post/city-alba…

In Pennsylvania, an order for #NoUtilityShutoffs extends to gas, privately owned electric and some water utilities—but most municipal water utilities are not covered by the order.
nbcphiladelphia.com/news/coronavir…

Rhode Island extended its moratorium on gas and electric utilities, but the state’s moratorium on water disconnections expired on July 17, 2020.
ecori.org/renewable-ener…

The Vermont Public Utilities Commission moratoria protecting residential customers from disconnections of gas and electric service is expiring at the end of the month, and the VPUC has said they will not extend it.

Meanwhile:
burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/202…

The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued a #NoUtilityShutoffs order suspending disconnection of gas, electric and water services to privately owned utilities.

But about 93% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.
wtop.com/virginia/2020/…

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission issued an emergency #NoUtilityShutoffs order of privately owned utility services.

But in Tennessee, approximately 94% of residential water customers receive service from a municipal utility.
knoxnews.com/story/news/202…

18 states either have no protections against residential utility disconnections or they have not provided information in a readily available manner as to how or whether residents will effectively be protected from disconnection of either electric, gas or water services.

As COVID-19 cases in Alabama continues to climb, the state does not offer any protections against shutoffs to gas, water and electric services.

When access to clean water is critically important, some Alabamans are being disconnected to clean water.
mynbc15.com/news/local/bil…

Colorado is one of seven states whose #NoUtilityShutoffs orders expired, leaving Coloradans vulnerable to losing their water, gas or electric or services.
denver.cbslocal.com/2020/07/17/ala…

There are no protections in place in Georgia to stop utility disconnections for non-payment.

Earlier this month, utility disconnections began in Fayetteville.
ajc.com/news/local/fay…

Hawaii’s moratorium on gas, electric, and water utilities expired on June 30. As cases continue to be reported, some Hawaiians cannot count on access to clean water.
hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/07/21/haw…

Iowa’s #NoUtilityShutoffs order expired in late May. As more cases are reported in Iowa, there are no longer protections on water utilities which are vital to wash hands and prevent the spread of this pandemic.
desmoinesregister.com/story/news/202…

Idaho does not have protections in place to help people from utility disconnections due to non-payment.

On July 7, water disconnections resumed in the City of Pocatello.
idahostatejournal.com/community/city…

A temporary #NoUtilityShutoffs Executive Order from Governor Kelly expired in Kansas on May 1, 2020.
kansas.com/news/coronavir…

An emergency Executive Order, signed by Governor Bullock, prohibiting utility disconnections expired on May 24, 2020. As towns across Montana face additional COVID-19 cases, some Montanans may lack the access to clean water necessary to wash their hands.
kpax.com/news/coronavir…

The Columbus Dispatch of Mississippi reported that Columbus Light and Water has been disconnecting service of “40 to 50 customers a day due to unpaid bills,” a 50% increase on shutoffs compared to pre-COVID numbers.
cdispatch.com/news/article.a…

Missouri is one of several states that currently does not offer protections against residential utility disconnections. On June 27, the Jefferson News Tribune reported that Central Missouri utility companies had resumed shutoffs.
newstribune.com/news/local/sto…

North Dakota is one of 17 states without a #NoUtilityShutoffs order. As active COVID-19 cases reach an all time high in North Dakota, the need for accessible clean water is vital for the health and wellness of North Dakotans.

grandforksherald.com/newsmd/coronav…

On June 11, the Shawnee News Star reported that the City of Ardmore, Oklahoma would resume water disconnections for non-payment. City officials said that of the approximately 11,500 customers receiving city water, over 700 have past due bills.
news-star.com/story/news/loc…

In South Carolina, Governor McMaster ended #NoUtilityShutoffs by allowing companies to resume regular operations on May 13.

Charleston Water Services has announced they’ll resume water shutoffs on August 17.
abcnews4.com/news/local/cha…

South Dakota is one of 17 states without a #NoUtilityShutoffs order. In the town of Spearfish, the Public Works department announced that they would resume shutoffs on July 10.
bhpioneer.com/covid-19/spear…

On June 19, the City of Fort Worth, which had suspended water disconnections since March 13, announced that disconnections would resume on September 8.
patch.com/texas/dallas-f…

Utah is one of 18 states with no official moratorium on utility shutoffs. As the total number of Utahns with COVID-19 continues to rise, some could face this pandemic without access to clean water or electricity.
ksltv.com/441780/utah-re…

West Virginia took action in March to encourage #NoUtilityShutoffs, but a June order allows utility companies to resume residential utility disconnections, starting July 1.

West Virginians are no longer protected from water, gas and electric shutoffs.
wvpublic.org/post/wva-utili…

Wyoming does not have a state ordered moratorium on utility shutoffs.

Washing hands is critical to #SlowTheSpread, yet there are no protections in the state to ensure #NoUtilityShutoffs, including water service.
jhnewsandguide.com/the_hole_scrol…