Need Help Paying Your Utility Bills? What You Need To Know Now

BRANFORD, CT — For businesses and residents who assistance paying utility bills as a result of the pandemic, there's help.

The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued a ruling that will extend the enrollment period for the COVID-19 Payment Program for non-residential customers through Nov. 1 which aligns with the same payment program for residential gas and electric customers.

But a heads-up that the “Shut-off Moratorium” currently in place for state-regulated electric, gas and water utilities ends Wednesday.

All customers experiencing difficulty paying their utility bills should contact their utility company and ask:

• First, whether the customer is eligible to be “coded hardship.” Special financial assistance programs are available to hardship customers. For more information, see this Operation Fuel website.
• Second, if ineligible for hardship status, to be placed on a COVID-19 Payment Plan.

Here are the phone numbers:

Eversource: 800-286-2828
Connecticut Natural Gas: 860-727-3000
Southern Connecticut Gas: 800-659-8299
United Illuminating: 800-722-5584

Important Dates:

• The Shut-off Moratorium for non-hardship residential customers is scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2020.
• Enrollment for the COVID-19 Payment Program for non-residential and residential customers is open until November 1, 2020.

COVID-19 Payment Plans:

• Are available to any customer requesting financial assistance, without demonstrating financial need;
• Require no initial or down payment;
• Can be up to 24 months in length;
• Waive any fees or interest in the calculation of the monthly payment amount;
• Facilitate the repayment of the past due balances in addition to the customer’s current monthly bill.

Importantly, any customer enrolled in a COVID-19 Payment Program who is current with their payment terms cannot be disconnected even once the shut-off moratoriums have concluded.