The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has approved $40 million in new energy bill assistance for people struggling financially due to the pandemic, including Puget Sound Energy gas and electricity customers.
Electricity and natural gas customers of four of the state’s investor-owned utilities — Avista, Cascade Natural Gas, PacifiCorp, and Puget Sound Energy — will be eligible starting this week for bill assistance.
Members of the three-member state commission, appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee, previously ordered each utility to create temporary Covid-19 bill relief programs using 1% of their Washington retail revenue, among other customer protections.
The commission said customers are eligible for the help if they earn no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. Individual customers can get up to $2,500 per year in additional help with bills.
The programs approved by the state agency last week include customers of the following four utilities:
Puget Sound Energy: Crisis Affected Customer Assistance
Program, $27.7 million
Avista: Debt Relief Program, $6.5 million
Cascade Natural Gas: Big Hearts Program, $2.5 million
PacifiCorp: Residential Covid-19 Bill Payment Assistance
Program, $3.1 million
The customer assistance funds are available in addition to federal Low Income Home Energy Assistant Program (LIHEAP) grants or other existing bill assistance programs and long-term payment plan arrangements, UTC said.
The commission said customers who've received energy assistance in the past may automatically get a grant to forgive past balances due, up to a $2,500 annual limit.
Eligible customers who have not received energy assistance before should reach out directly to their utility for details.
Gov. Inslee prohibited Washington state energy, telecommunications and water companies from charging late fees, disconnecting customers due to nonpayment, or refusing to reconnect customers with unpaid bills until July 31.
The UTC will hold a public meeting in May to assess
utilities' responses in the state during the pandemic.
