Who Will Pay Them? Delinquent Electric Bills From The Pandemic Are Coming Due
The shutdowns and restrictions that governments have imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 have made it hard for many households to afford basic needs. Thousands of Americans are struggling to pay monthly utility bills.
Utilities and policymakers recognized that services like water and electricity are essential to people’s health, safety and comfort. Since mid-March they have taken steps to keep those services coming.
The most popular approach has been for them to impose moratoria on late fees and disconnections for nonpayment of bills. Every state in the U.S. has enacted some version of this policy, from formal declarations to voluntary programs offered by utilities.
Map of disconnection moratoria as of Nov. 3, 2020. NARUC
But now these moratoria are starting to expire. Consumers are ...