Legislation recently introduced in the state Senate would help households and small businesses facing delinquencies on utility bills caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statewide, 55,000 businesses and nearly 800,000 residential customers have become behind on their utility bills since the pandemic started.
The Utility Security for Seniors, Families and Small Businesses Act would allocate $100 million from the CARES Act to expand utility assistance to low-income customers eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; increase program flexibility to include those who previously did not meet income eligibility guidelines but lost their income as a result of the pandemic; and create a way to provide small businesses with financial assistance to pay back utility bills and stay current on their bills as the economy recovers.
“This legislation provides the assistance necessary to stop the massive economic aftershock mass shutoffs would precipitate,” said state Sen. Tom Killion (R-Chester and Delaware), who introduced the bill. “Closed businesses, abandoned properties and homes, and utility rate increases are among the most likely effects from failing to provide this much-needed assistance.”
The bill was referred to the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.
Killion consulted utility company representatives and consumer advocacy group members when writing the bill.