On Oct. 1, Texans who were previously protected by a state program blocking utility disconnections during the coronavirus pandemic could again be at risk of having their lights shut off because they can’t pay their bills. And some could be on the hook for some back payments.
The Public Utility Commission, a state utility regulator, enacted the Electricity Relief Program in late March to provide relief to those facing financial inse curity due to the coronavirus, as thousands of Texans lost their jobs due to mandatory shutdowns. The commission’s jurisdiction doesn’t include parts of the state with city-owned utility companies, like Austin, which has a monopoly on electricity services, or regions that use cooperatives.
Nearly 595,000 households are being shielded from utility disconnections because of the program. Since March, it’s provided more than $30 million in bill payment assistance, partially funded by surcharges added to other utility customers’ bills that average out to about 50 cents per household per month.
