PURA COVID Actions
The information provided below only applies to PURA-regulated gas, electric, and water utilities. Other utilities operating in the state not regulated by PURA, including municipal utilities, have adopted similar policies; however, customers of those utilities should contact their providers directly for clarification if needed.
COVID19 PURA ACTION MAY 5 WEBINAR - RESIDENTS
COVID19 PURA ACTION MAY 5 WEBINAR 1PM - COMMERCIAL
PURA Orders on Behalf of Connecticut Ratepayers:
3/12/2020
Order No. 1 The gas, electric, and water public service companies regulated by the Authority shall implement a Shut-off Moratorium and refrain from terminating utility service to residential customers, except for reasons of public safety for the duration of the Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergency declared by Governor Lamont on March 10, 2020, or until such other time determined by the Authority.
3/18/2020
Order No. 2 The gas, electric, and water public service companies regulated by the Authority shall extend the Shut-off Moratorium to all non-residential customer classes and refrain from terminating utility service, except for reasons of public safety, until May 1, 2020, or until such other time as determined by the Authority.
5/29/2020 Order No. 15 The Shut-off Moratorium established in Order No. 2 for all non-
residential customer classes, except for reason of public safety, is extended
through July 1, 2020.
6/25/2020: Additional Ruling to Order No. 2: The Shut-off Moratorium established in Order No. 2 for all non-residential customers classes, except for reason of public safety, is extended through August 1, 2020.
Order No. 3 The gas, electric, and water public service companies regulated by the Authority shall not require any financial security deposits or balance reduction payments required for restoration of utility service until May 1, 2020, or until such other time as determined by the Authority.
Order No. 4 The gas, electric, and water public service companies regulated by the Authority shall maintain a detailed record of costs incurred and revenues lost as result of implementing Order Nos. 1 – 3 and may establish a regulatory asset to track incurred costs.
4/29/2020
Order No. 5 Public Service Utilities and Electric Suppliers shall implement the COVID-19 Payment Program as described in Section I above.
Order No. 6 Public Service Utilities shall, no later than June 15, 2020, and the 15th of every month thereafter until the end of the Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergency declared by Governor Ned Lamont, file the report described in Section III above. Within 60 days of the end of the Emergency, the Public Service Utilities shall also file a final report reflecting the aggregated data and status updates dating back to March 1, 2020, for the information requested in Section III above.
Order No. 7 Public Service Utilities shall maintain a detailed record of costs incurred and revenues lost in accordance with Section II of this Interim Decision as a direct result of (1) implementing Order Nos. 1 – 4, and (2) the COVID-19 Payment Program as described in Section I, and may establish a regulatory asset to track such costs.
Order No. 8 The Shut-off Moratorium established in Order No. 2 for all non-residential customer classes, except for reason of public safety, is extended through June 1, 2020.
5/15/2020
Order No. 9 Order No. 5 of the Interim Decision is supplemented by the clarifications and direction provided herein.
Order No. 10 If a Public Service Utility has not yet begun offering the COVID-19 Payment Program, then it shall provide the Authority a weekly status report every Friday by 12:00 P.M. (Noon) until the COVID-19 Payment Program is fully implemented and available to all customers.
Order No. 11 Eversource shall provide the Authority with the estimated eight (8) week implementation schedule and estimated costs to implement a 24-month payment plan by 12:00 PM on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Order No. 12 All Public Service Utilities shall file a Communications Plan, as described herein, by 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on May 21, 2020.
Order No. 13 All Public Service Utilities offering a Matching Payment Program(s) shall adopt the modified program guidelines articulated herein for the remainder of the program year ending on October 31, 2020.
Order No. 14 Order No. 6 of the Interim Decision is replaced in its entirety by the following: Public Service Utilities shall, no later than June 15, 2020, and the 15th of every month thereafter until the end of the Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergency declared by Governor Ned Lamont, file the report described in Section III of the Interim Order. Following the conclusion of the Emergency, the reports described in Section III of the Interim Order shall be filed quarterly, until such time that the term of the payment arrangements made pursuant to the COVID-19 Payment Program has expired. Within 60 days of concluding the final COVID-19 Payment Program payment arrangement(s), the Public Service Utilities shall also file a final report reflecting the aggregated data and status updates dating back to March 1, 2020, for the information requested in Section III of the Interim Decision.
The gas and electric public service companies regulated by PURA, the Connecticut Light and Power Company and Yankee Gas Services Company d/b/a Eversource Energy, United Illuminating Company, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, and Southern Connecticut Gas Company, have suspended late payment fees (also known as interest charges) to all accounts. Additionally, some public service companies (i.e. utilities) have waived other fees or are offering other new services – contact your local utilities for further details.
Aquarion Water: Responding to COVID-19
Connecticut Water: COVID-19 Preparedness Measures
Eversource Energy (Connecticut Light and Power; Yankee Gas Services): We’re Adapting to Serve You
United Illuminating (United Illuminating; Southern Connecticut Gas; Connecticut Natural Gas): COVID-19 and Our Response
7/21/2020
PURA Chairman Marissa P. Gillett issued a “toolkit” to help Connecticut ratepayers understand their options in tackling utility bill arrearages through a PURA-mandated COVID-19 Payment Program that state-regulated electric, gas and water utilities must offer to both residential and non-residential customers.
Other PURA Actions on Behalf of Connecticut Ratepayers:
3/13/2020
PURA Directs Utilities to Cease Residential Shut-offs During COVID-19 Outbreak – PURA announced that it issued a ruling directing all regulated electric, natural gas, and water companies in the state to cease residential service terminations for nonpayment as a protective measure during the current public health emergency.
3/18/2020
PURA Calls for Third-Party Electric Suppliers to Cease Door-to-Door Sales during COVID-19 Crisis – PURA announced that it is strongly encouraging third-party electric suppliers to cease all door-to-door sales, effective immediately, in response to the current public health emergency in the state.
3/23/2020
Third-Party Electric Supplier Targeting Low-Income Households Amid COVID-19 Crisis –
Operation Fuel, PURA, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, and Attorney General William Tong reminded all customers to be aware of potential utility scams to help them avoid becoming victims, and to contact their utility directly if they have any questions about their bills or their service.
4/8/2020
PURA Extends Bid Deadline for Clean Energy Programs – PURA issued a ruling that will extend certain deadlines for the Low and Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (LREC/ZREC) program as well as the Statewide Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) program in its continued effort to make adjustments to schedules and programs in response to the current COVID-19 public health emergency.
PURA Ruling Provides Additional Flexibility to Renewable Energy Projects Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic – PURA issued a ruling that provides additional flexibility for eligible Low and Zero Emissions Renewable Energy Credit (LREC/ZREC) projects that may be experiencing delivery delays attributable to the ongoing public health crisis.
4/9/2020
PURA Letter to Members of the Electric, Gas, Water and Telecommunications Industries – On behalf of PURA, the Commissioners provided assurance to our regulated entities, our stakeholders, and all ratepayers that PURA remains wholly dedicated to our core mission of ensuring the public’s right to safe, adequate, and reliable utility service at reasonable rates. PURA is committed to exercising our authority in a thoughtful and decisive manner, and we continue to evaluate ways in which we can provide stability, certainty, and assistance in the challenging times that remain ahead.
4/17/2020
PURA Letter to Connecticut Congressional Delegation – PURA advocated for directing stimulus funds to regulated public service companies that would be used to directly offset uncollectibles that will accrue to our hardest-hit residential and non-residential customers during the current COVID-19 public health emergency.
04/22/2020
PURA Announces May 5 Webinars to Communicate Resources Available to Customers of the State's Regulated Public Utility Companies in Response to COVID-19 – Two separate webinars tailored to residential and business customers.
PURA COVID-19 Investigation and Actions:
Docket No. 20-03-15 – PURA’s COVID-19 Investigation
PURA established Docket No. 20-03-15 on March 12, 2020, to review a petition filed by William Tong, Attorney General for the State of Connecticut, pursuant to the General Statutes of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat.). §§ 16-11 and 16-19e. On March 18, 2020, PURA expanded the scope of Docket No. 20-03-15 to provide support to ratepayers and the public during the course of the COVID-19 emergencies and any period of economic recovery.
As of April 30, 2020, PURA has issued an Interim Decision, as well as interrogatories (or requests) to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and several multipart interrogatories to the public service companies regulated by the Authority in Docket No. 20-03-15. Also, Prosecutorial staff (PRO) assigned to PURA’s 100-Day Sprint Initiative (Sprints) as part of the Authority’s investigation into energy affordability (Docket No. 17-12-03RE01) for residential customers in Connecticut provided a status update on the Sprints on March 23, 2020.
Content last updated July 2020