Utility bills resume as moratorium ends

OLYMPIA — Protection from having electricity, water, natural gas, sewer service from being shut off ends on Sept. 30.

An emergency measure proclamation by Gov. Jay Inslee was to ease the financial pressure of people who lost their jobs during the COVID shelter-in-place period of the pandemic.

“This moratorium has provided hundreds of thousands of Washington families’ much-needed peace of mind during the pandemic, and now utility companies are eager and ready to help their customers make a plan that keeps their services on,” Inslee said.

As it ends, the state expects the return of needing to pay utility bills could impact more than half a million people with overdue bills.

“State leaders urge customers, who are behind on energy and water bills, to contact utilities and make a plan to keep services on,” stated Penny Thomas, state Department of Commerce communications.

Privately-owned energy utilities have more than 280,000 customers with overdue bills. The companies provided more than $28.5 million in assistance funds, stated Thomas. The rest of the customers with overdue bills use publicly-owned utility districts.

“The state’s not-for-profit, community-owned utilities are committed to working with our customers,” said Washington PUD Association Executive Director George Caan. “Our efforts continue to focus on making contact with customers, connecting them with assistance, and working with our customers to establish a pathway to recovery.”

State officials encourage people to contact their utility provider and ask about programs and plans to help prevent having utilities from being shut off for overdue bills.

“I urge people make that call as soon as they can. That call can give a family one less thing to worry about as fall and winter approaches,” said Inslee.