Otis Singleton
In Arizona, electricity providers are prohibited from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment between June 1 and October 15, which are the warmest months of the year. After this period, customers who are delinquent are placed on payment arrangements and must pay their monthly installments plus their current monthly bills in full and on time. The bill arrears threshold for disconnection has been increased from $100 to $300 for electric utilities. Some electricity providers offer crisis bill assistance and energy support programs for low-income customers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric utilities disconnection threshold | $300 |
| Gas utilities disconnection threshold | $100 |
| Disconnection moratorium period | June 1 through October 15 |
| Disconnection option during extreme weather | If the forecasted temperature is above 95°F or below 32°F |
| Crisis Bill Assistance | Available |
| Energy Support Program | Discounts of up to 25% or 60% based on income |
| Energy Support with Medical Program | Discounts of up to 35% or 60% |
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What You'll Learn
- Electric utilities cannot disconnect residential customers from June 1 to October 15
- Customers owing more than $300 may have their electricity disconnected
- Customers on a payment plan who miss a payment won't have the plan terminated
- Utilities must notify customers before disconnecting their electricity
- Customers can set up payment arrangements to pay off past-due balances
Electric utilities cannot disconnect residential customers from June 1 to October 15
In Arizona, electric utilities cannot disconnect residential customers from June 1 to October 15. This hold period is due to measures adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to avoid customer disconnection during the warmest months of the year.
During this time, customers are still responsible for paying their monthly energy bills and are encouraged to pay their monthly electric bill in full or as much as they can to avoid accumulating a large overdue balance. While customers will not be disconnected during the hold period, late fees will not be applied to charges incurred during this time.
Customers with a past-due balance of $75 or more will be put on an automatic six-month payment arrangement towards the end of the hold period, in early September. Customers who are delinquent after October 15 will be placed on payment arrangements and must pay their monthly installments plus their current monthly bills in full and on time.
Electric utilities can choose between two disconnection options during periods of extreme weather: if the forecasted temperature is above 95°F or below 32°F, or they can choose to use the June 1 through October 15 disconnection moratorium. Arizona Public Service Co., Tucson Electric Power Co., and Unisource Energy Services use the June 1-Oct. 15 standard, while Salt River Project is not regulated by the Corporation Commission and will not disconnect customers when a heat warning has been issued.
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Customers owing more than $300 may have their electricity disconnected
In Arizona, customers owing more than $300 may have their electricity disconnected. However, this disconnection will not occur during periods of extreme weather, which are defined as temperatures forecasted to be above 95°F or below 32°F. During these periods, utility companies are required to offer alternative options for customers to get caught up on their past-due balances.
There are also other circumstances in which electricity will not be disconnected. For example, between June 1 and October 15, residential customers are protected from disconnection, regardless of the amount owed. This is due to measures adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to prevent disconnections during the warmest months of the year.
Customers who are unable to pay their utility bills are encouraged to contact their utility provider to discuss repayment arrangements. These arrangements can be up to 12 months long, and providers often offer programs to assist low-income customers or those facing financial difficulties. For instance, APS offers crisis bill assistance and energy support programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Project Share.
It is important to note that customers on a payment plan who miss a payment or only make a partial payment within a 12-month period will not have their plan terminated. Instead, they will be responsible for paying the outstanding balance immediately. To avoid accumulating a large overdue balance, customers are encouraged to continue making payments, even if they can only pay a portion of what they owe.
Utility companies in Arizona are required to notify customers before disconnecting their service and to work with them to help them manage their debt. This includes offering payment arrangements and providing information on available assistance programs.
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Customers on a payment plan who miss a payment won't have the plan terminated
In Arizona, utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment between June 1 and October 15, which are the warmest months of the year. This rule was enacted following the tragic death of 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman, who passed away from environmental heat exposure and cardiovascular disease after her power was disconnected due to a $51 overdue bill.
During this period, customers are still responsible for paying their monthly energy bills and are encouraged to pay their monthly bill in full or as much as they can to avoid accumulating a large overdue balance. Customers on a payment plan who miss a payment or only make a partial payment within a 12-month period will not have their payment plan terminated, but they will be responsible for paying the outstanding balance.
Utility companies offer various programs to assist customers who are struggling to pay their bills. For instance, APS offers crisis bill assistance and energy support programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Project Share. TEP also provides short-term bill payment assistance through its Lifeline program, which offers monthly discounts for qualifying low-income customers.
Additionally, Arizona utility companies must give customers at least six months to pay off their debt and allow for repayment arrangements of up to 12 months. Customers who owe more than $300 and do not pay their current monthly charges by the due date may have their electric service disconnected. However, a series of communications are sent to past-due customers before service disconnection, offering options to help them catch up on their overdue balance.
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Utilities must notify customers before disconnecting their electricity
In Arizona, utility companies must notify customers before disconnecting their electricity. This is to give customers a chance to get caught up on their past-due balances and avoid disconnection. The notification must include a series of communications sent to past-due customers, offering a variety of options to pay off their debt. This can include payment arrangements, which allow customers to pay off their debt over several months, as well as information about programs that can help reduce their monthly payments or pay down their bills.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has approved rules to protect customers from disconnection during extreme weather conditions and to provide more time to pay off bills. Electric utilities can choose between two disconnection options during periods of extreme weather: if the forecasted temperature is above 95°F or below 32°F, or they can opt for the June 1 through October 15 disconnection moratorium. During this time, late fees are not applied, and customers are still responsible for paying their monthly energy bills to prevent an overwhelming past-due balance.
After October 15, customers who are delinquent will be placed on payment arrangements. They must pay their monthly installments, plus their current monthly bills in full and on time. Customers who owe more than $300 and do not pay their current monthly charges by the due date may have their electric service disconnected. However, utility companies must work with these customers in good faith and provide them with at least six months to pay off their debt.
In addition to the notification requirements, utility companies in Arizona offer various programs to assist customers who are struggling to pay their bills. These include crisis bill assistance, energy support programs, and short-term bill payment assistance for low-income customers. There are also community organizations that provide emergency bill payment assistance and resources to eligible Arizonans. These programs aim to help customers avoid disconnection and manage their energy costs more effectively.
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Customers can set up payment arrangements to pay off past-due balances
In Arizona, customers can set up payment arrangements to pay off past-due balances. This option is available to customers who have a past-due balance of $75 or more on their energy bill. The payment arrangement allows customers to pay off their past-due balance over several months, with the total amount divided into equal monthly payments. For example, if you owe $100, you can choose a payment arrangement option of four months at $25 each, plus your current energy charges.
It is important to note that customers are responsible for paying both the payment arrangement amount and their current charges each month. Failure to do so may result in the payment arrangement being considered broken, and the customer may be required to pay up to 50% of their past-due balance before setting up a new payment plan. Additionally, customers with a history of broken payment arrangements may have limited eligibility for future payment plans.
Customers can set up payment arrangements by calling the utility company or using online platforms and mobile applications provided by the company. The utility company also offers assistance programs and resources to help customers reduce monthly payments and pay off outstanding balances. These programs include short-term guest access, safety nets, and long-term crisis and housing support.
During the summer months, from June 1 to October 15, residential service cannot be shut off, and no late fees are applied. However, customers are still responsible for making timely payments to prevent the balance from building up and becoming overwhelming.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, between June 1 and October 15, electricity companies in Arizona cannot disconnect customers for non-payment.
Customers who are delinquent will be placed on payment arrangements and must pay their monthly installments plus their current monthly bills in full and on time.
Yes, customers who owe more than $300 and do not pay by the due date may have their electricity disconnected.
You can set up a payment arrangement to pay off your past-due balance over several months. You can also contact your electricity company to explore options for assistance.
APS offers crisis bill assistance and energy support programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Project Share.
