Do not sign up for the arrearage forgiveness plan unless you are reasonably certain you can make all 36 payments over the next three years, as this is a one-time opportunity. If you miss two months in a row, or four in three years, you will owe the entire back bill.
Also, remember that it is important to make a payment of some kind EVERY MONTH, EVEN IN THE WINTER, although it may be less than your budgeted amount. A good faith effort to pay is necessary if you need to rework your payment plan to avoid shutoff in the future.
Call 728-5555 if you need more information.
State Officials Dragging Feet on appointments to Ratepayer Advisory Board
Wiley Center Sponsors Community Meeting on the Henry Shelton Act
Delays in Implementation Seen as a Serious Problem
Implementation of Rhode Island’s new utility assistance program was the focus of a community forum last Saturday, October 15, 2011. Sponsored by the George Wiley Center and held at the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, the forum gave consumers an opportunity to learn how the program, created when the Henry Shelton Act was passed by the RI General Assembly this year, could assist low-income consumers and prevent utility shut-offs.
The benefits of the Henry Shelton Act were explained by Sakinah Abdur-Rasheed, community organizer at the Wiley Center.Forum participants expressed their frustration about the failure of officials at the governor’s energy office and staffers at the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers to provide information about the detailed workings of the program. Forum participants raised concerns that they have been unable to find out when they can begin to apply for energy assistance. Several participants said that they were struggling because they have no gas or electric service. They said that they need state officials to get the program up and running because without the assistance provided by the new program they cannot enroll in a payment plan to pay off their past utility bills, a prerequisite for utility restoration. Why are state officials unable to start the Henry Shelton energy assistance program when families are without heat and electricity, participants asked?
Frustration is rising because consumers who are eligible for the lower down payment and the arrearage forgiveness program are still unable to get service restored, despite the fact that the start date specified in the law was October 15, 2011.
With very cold weather only weeks away, we call on state officials and National Grid to comply with the law and enroll eligible households in the program.
In the days ahead, we will be dogged in our efforts to see that this utility assistance program created by members of the RI General Assembly gets implemented as intended. We will not sit by idly waiting for officials at the governor’s energy office and the DPUC to implement this essential energy assistance program while desperate families wait for the help that they need to pay their utility bills and get out from under the fear of a utility shut-off.A public hearing is scheduled for this Friday, October 21 at 11am at the Public Utilities Commission, hearing room A.All are encouraged to attend.
JULY 1, 2011 BREAKING NEWS: RI General Assembly passes "The Henry Shelton Act" to assist struggling utility customers with a state-sponsored LIHEAP enhancement plan.
For information on how to sign up for heating assistance benefits in Rhode Island, downloadour brochure, funded in part through an IOLTA grant from the Rhode Island Bar Association. For a additional information on the program, visithttp://www.energy.ri.gov/lowincome/liheap.php.
For more information on how to combat the utility company and fight for your rights, come to a chapter meeting of RI Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty.
Received a shutoff notice from the gas or electric company?
September 2008 shutoffs broke the one-month record for Rhode Island. Our utility shut-off problem is real and growing according to expert John Howat of the National Consumer Law Center.
Ever fallen behind on your National Grid gas or electric bill? When “back bills” grow, National Grid switches turns to an aggressive corporate debt collector. Even “protected customers” who negotiate a payment plan and then miss a payment, face the real risk of a shut-off. The “payment plans” are not affordable and are “negotiated” on an uneven playing field: Financially strapped and desperate resident vs. global corporation — and the Division of Public Utilities lets it happen, tens of thousands of times each year.
These payment plans are unrealistic when compared to monthly income and is why H6079, the Home Energy Rate Affordability Act, needs to pass this year. Review these reports to see the shocking numbers involved in these “no win” phony deals.
Members of the George Wiley Center, backed by State Representative Gordon Fox, won an extension of the Winter Moratorium until May 1, 2009.
You may be a “PROTECTED” Customer and be legally protected from a utility shut-off during the winter moratorium. To find out, call the RI State Energy Office or your local CAP agency to see you are protected by qualifying as a LIHEAP customer. If you received “Heating Assistance” last year in the same town, you should be on the list as a protected customer this year. YOU MUST REAPPLY.
The Spring, Summer and Fall months when the Winter Moratorium is NOT in effect, it is shut-off season. To protect yourself, call us and then take the following steps:
1. Call the company & make a reasonable offer based on what is affordable for your family.
If your offer is refused by the company, go to the next step.
2. Call the Public Utilities Commission & request an informal hearing.
Here's the phone number, (401) 780-9700 and remember, you have a right to this hearing.
You can demand a bilingual hearing officer if you need one.
This should temporarily stop any shutoff. Also, put your request in writing to:
Division of Public Utilities, 89 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02888.
After your hearing has been scheduled, go to the next step.
3. Contact us at (401) 728-5555 if there you have any problems in following these steps.
We work together to advocate as a group on common issues. On a very limited basis, we can send an advocate with you or advise you on how to prepare for your informal hearing for an AFFORDABLE ENERGY PAYMENT PLAN. If you are interested in becoming an advocate for others — let us know.
After the informal hearing, if you are not satisfied with your written answer from the Division, go to the next step.
4. Request a second, formal hearing.
Here's the phone number, (401) 941-4500 and remember, until that hearing is held, your service cannot be shut off.
