Ohio Issues Disconnect Moratorium for Low-Income

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on December 19 issued a 90-day moratorium on the disconnection of residential electric and natural gas services. The moratorium applies only to residential customers whose household income is at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Governor Ted Strickland had issued a letter to the PUCO a day earlier stating the importance of remembering those who are unable to heat their homes this winter and asking the PUCO to consider issuing a moratorium on the disconnection of electric and natural gas services.

The Commission found that current economic conditions and the scarcity of federal government financial assistance imposes a hardship on many Ohioans that could result in difficulty in paying utility bills this winter. The Commission said that those households at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guideline are at the greatest risk.

Each natural gas and electric utility subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction is prohibited from disconnecting residential natural gas or electric service for nonpayment of bills for a 90-day period where the residential household income is at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guideline. The moratorium is valid as long as the customer is on an extended payment plan with the utility or the customer agrees to enroll in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) or other Commission-ordered payment plans.

The moratorium is not a forgiveness of the utility bill and the customer is ultimately responsible for payment of the entire amount owed on the natural gas or electric bill. Customers are strongly encouraged to continue to pay their natural gas or electric bill each month when the bill is due or make the monthly payments on any alternative payment plan they have entered into with the utility company.

A copy of order is available at www.PUCO.ohio.gov . Click on the link to Docketing Information System and enter the case number 07- 938-GE-UNC.

Page Last Updated: January 2, 2008