The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) decided not to extend the COVID-19 utility shutoff moratorium, allowing utilities to shut off gas, electric, and water services for households beginning April 1, 2021. Although the PUC has required utilities to offer payment arrangements, these payment arrangements are limited in scope, often inaccessible due to red tape and administrative barriers, and do not address the needs of people struggling to get by. This decision will put at least 847,000 Pennsylvania households at imminent risk of losing heat, electric, and water service. Many of these households are behind on their utility bills because they’ve lost their jobs due to the ongoing pandemic. Although the Philadelphia Water Department just announced it will postpone all residential shutoffs until April 2022, Philadelphians who are struggling financially are still at risk of losing their gas and electricity, and people across the state can lose all of their utility services.
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