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IOUs’ Policies on Residential Shut-Offs for Non-Payment. Low Income Oversight Board (LIOB) Meeting January 21, 2009 CPUC Energy Division. Questions on Issue of Utility Shut-offs for Non-Payment.
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IOUs’ Policies on Residential Shut-Offs for Non-Payment Low Income Oversight Board (LIOB) Meeting January 21, 2009 CPUC Energy Division
Questions on Issue of Utility Shut-offs for Non-Payment • What is the policy/process employed by each IOU to determine whether or not it is safe to shut-off the electricity/gas of a customer in non-payment? • Have adverse medical conditions or other consequences occurred as a result of shut-offs for non-payment?
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) • PG&E allows field service representative to determine if conditions are safe enough to proceed with shut-off • Manager approval is required when shut-off is scheduled for medical baseline customer or customer on life support • PG&E is not aware of any shut-offs for non-payment resulting in adverse medical conditions
Southern California Edison (SCE) • SCE’s Extreme Weather Disconnection Policy stands in effect when temperature is 105 degrees or above and when temperature is 25 degrees or below • Field service representative first must attempt to contact customer at the door • After making contact, the representative will determine whether any special needs or conditions warrant not disconnecting service • Customers with special needs or conditions receive a 48-hour extension • Normal shut-off procedures are followed for other customers
Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) • Attempt must be made to personally contact elderly and/or disabled customers at least 48 hours prior to disconnecting service for non-payment • Shut-offs can be avoided for customers who set-up a payment prearrangement and inform the utilities that an occupant is elderly and/or disabled or that a shut-off would endanger household occupants • In addition to payment prearrangements, customers are informed of other available assistance programs
Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) • Field procedures allow for extensions to be granted to customers in cases of extreme hardship • Disconnections will not occur in the event of extreme temperatures • SoCalGas and SDG&E are not aware of disconnections cases during extreme weather conditions that have resulted in adverse consequences