Newsroom

PURA Extends COVID-19 Payment Program Enrollment Date

Critical information on residential shut-off moratorium and financial assistance programs

(New Britain, CT – September 23, 2020) – Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) today issued a ruling that will extend the enrollment period for the COVID-19 Payment Program for non-residential customers through November 1, 2020. The enrollment period for the COVID-19 Payment Program for both residential and non-residential customers will now extend through November 1, 2020.

PURA also reminds all residential customers that the “Shut-off Moratorium” currently in place for state-regulated electric, gas and water utilities is scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2020. PURA encourages all customers experiencing difficulty paying their utility bills to contact their utility company and to ask:

• First, whether the customer is eligible to be “coded hardship.” Special financial assistance programs are available to hardship customers. For more information, see this Operation Fuel website;
• Second, if ineligible for hardship status, to be placed on a COVID-19 Payment Plan.

Important Dates:

• The Shut-off Moratorium for non-hardship residential customers is scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2020.
• Enrollment for the COVID-19 Payment Program for non-residential and residential customers is open until November 1, 2020.

COVID-19 Payment Plans:

• Are available to any customer requesting financial assistance, without demonstrating financial need;
• Require no initial or down payment;
• Can be up to twenty-four (24) months in length;
• Waive any fees or interest in the calculation of the monthly payment amount;
• Facilitate the repayment of the past due balances in addition to the customer’s current monthly bill.

Importantly, any customer enrolled in a COVID-19 Payment Program who is current with their payment terms cannot be disconnected even once the Shut-off Moratoriums have concluded.

About the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority:

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is statutorily-charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state’s cable television companies. In the industries that are still wholly regulated, PURA balances the public’s right to safe, adequate and reliable utility service at reasonable rates with the provider’s right to a reasonable return on its investment. PURA also keeps watch over competitive utility services to promote equity among the competitors while customers reap the price and quality benefits of competition and are protected from unfair business practices. Visit PURA’s website at www.ct.gov/pura.

View by state