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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Emergency Assistance Manual |
Local electric, natural gas, and water utility companies are required by state regulations to provide the following assistance to customers:
· Utility Service for Medical Problems: Local utility companies are required, upon request by the customer, to maintain a customer’s utility service when there is a serious illness of an EA Group member.
· Reasonable Payment Plan: Local utility companies are required to provide a payment plan based on the customer’s ability to pay upon request by the customer. Even if the customer previously may have been denied a payment plan, once a customer’s utility service has been disconnected, the customer has a new right to a payment plan based on ability to pay.
· "Winter Moratorium” plus additional Regional Days: Local utility companies are not permitted to disconnect customers’ utility service during the November 1st through April 15th “winter moratorium” period. In addition, on a regional basis state regulations require local utility companies to not disconnect a customer’s utility service on any other days when the temperature is forecasted at 32 degrees or colder, or the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory.
When a customer already has attempted to resolve a problem with the local utility company and the problem has not been resolved, then the customer may contact the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) at (800) 225-7729 or http://psc.wi.gov/. The PSC regulates local electric, natural gas and water utility companies.
Note: Because the PSC does not regulate local electric cooperatives, liquid propane companies or oil companies, the regulations described above are not applicable to these cooperatives/companies.
History: There are no previous versions of this policy.