Please take a moment to demand the below actions:
Put these requests into your own words about why these demands are important.
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Permanent moratorium on shut offs for low-income households
Now is time for RI to lead on this issue and break the cycle of unfair shut offs on low-income families who have for too long have been forced to pay disproportionately higher utilities compared to more affluent households.
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Emergency Utility Restoration for all low-income households
without any down payment
The RI PUC passed a 10% deposit of back bill down for restoration which we support for affluent households but we demand that those who can’t afford the 10% (those eligible for LIHEAP assistance) should not be punished with higher health risks based on their inability to pay a 10% deposit to profit the utility company. The RI PUC should mandate that all utilities restore electric, gas and water to low-income households. RI needs to follow the lead of water departments who have
agreed to reconnect household currently without running water
without fees
to tackle the coronavirus pandemic
.
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Immediate implementation of the Percentage Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
Although with this order the RI PUC says that: “
Utilities are encouraged to offer flexible payment plans to all customers facing financial hardship, even short-term, during this time.”
We know that utilities need clear instruction and enforcement. Therefore, we expect our public officials to be more specific and to order that utilities not charge LIHEAP eligible consumers more than 2% of their income for electric and not charge a total of more than 4% of their income for electric and heat or electric and gas.
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We expect National Grid to voluntary agree to these fairer percentages to avoid adding regressive costs to low-income households’ energy burden. National Grid should stop jeopardizing the health of low-income households who continue to suffer from disproportionately high utility costs because of the lack of a Percentage Income Payment.
- Today’s health crisis hits homes on fixed incomes extra hard, that is why we need a tiered income-sensitive approach. It is time fight the forces of regulatory capture and for energy officials to prove their accountability and allegiance to the people of Rhode Island rather than to utility profiteers.
2)
Share your comments on social media networks
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Twitter
RIDPUC
tag @georgewileycri
-
Instagram
tag
@georgewileycenter
Use hashtags below along with your comments &/or create others:
#RestorationNOW #PIPPNOW #EnergyJusticeRI #ENDUtilityShutoffs2020
#georgewileycenter @georgewileycenteri
3)
Share the PIPP Petition
If you haven’t already, please sign
the PIPP petition
and then share the petition for PIPP with others. We need to continue to grow our base of support as we demand a response from the RI PUC