Disconnect For Non-Payment
COVID-19 Billing Assistance Plan
Background
EMP&L is among the lowest cost of energy providers in the Nation. We have been owned by our customers since 1922. To keep our costs low for ALL of our customers, we require all of our customers to promptly pay their bill. On July 2, 2021, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-23.16, extending, and amending all previous versions of Proclamation 20-23, pertaining to Utility Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services through September 30, 2021. This revised proclamation extended prohibitions for residential services regarding utility disconnections, refusing to reconnect service, and charging late fees. However, it does not remove the Customer’s obligation to pay all past-due balances for their utility services. This was the final extension to Proclamation 20-23 and it expires on September 30, 2021.
Billing Assistance Plan
Effective October 1, 2021, past due balances of Customers’ bills are due for payment and if not paid, may result in disconnection.
If requested by the customer, Elmhurst is offering an optional interest-free payment assistance plan for existing past-due balances. Some key dates are indicated below:
October 1-31, 2021:
If requested, Elmhurst will move the full account balance (balance as of 11/1/2021) into a deferred payment plan. The balance will be divided into 12 equal monthly installments. These installments will be added to each of the customers next 12 billing cycles.
Customers participating in this repayment plan are NOT eligible to participate in the budget billing plan until their past-due balance is paid in full. November 1 and forward, Customers are required to pay their current amount due, in addition to the deferred payment plan amount each month or be subject to disconnection of services.
October 31, 2021:
To avoid disconnection of services, Customers with past-due balances must have a deferred payment plan established on their accounts by October 31, 2021, or provide documentation confirming they have successfully applied for assistance and are awaiting final approval. If approval is rejected by the agency and the customer has not engaged in a 12-month payment plan, then service will be disconnected.
An Elmhurst Customer Service Rep will attempt to contact the Customer via a phone call to establish a payment plan and provide information about assistance options.
Any associated late and/or reconnection fees will not be assessed during this period (leading up to October 31, 2021).
November 1, 2021:
If a Customer has not established a payment plan or provided documentation of successful pending assistance, the account will be eligible for disconnection of services beginning November 1, 2021. To be reconnected, the account balance must be paid in full.
If a Tenant defaults on their deferred payment plan at any time and vacates the property, Elmhurst will disconnect services, notify the Landlord, and transfer all account balances to the Landlord account for payment. The Landlord can either pay the balance in full or request a 12-month deferred payment plan. To engage in a deferred payment plan, the Landlord must contact Elmhurst Customer Service within 30 days of the disconnect of service to set up a 12-month deferred payment arrangement for this transferred balance.