With summer heat waves here and much of the country still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of utility customers are finding themselves unprotected by moratoriums for the first time in over a year.
As of July 1st, only 11 states still have active utility disconnection moratoriums in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 1st, 2021, 110.9 million people in 15 states were covered by moratoriums (34% of the U.S. population). After July 1st, only 93.8 million people (29% of the U.S. population) were covered by moratoriums.
Six of the remaining states have moratoriums set to expire before the end of the summer (Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington).
Remaining states with active moratoriums starting July 1st, with expiration dates in parentheses:
- California (09/30/2021)
- Connecticut (07/20/2021)
- Washington, D.C. (Until the COVID-19 State of Emergency is Lifted)
- Maryland (11/01/2021, applies to customers with medical conditions or that have received energy assistance in the past 4 years)
- New Jersey (12/31/2021)
- New Mexico (08/12/2021)
- New York (State of emergency was lifted June 24. Customers must opt in to have their connection protected through December 21, 2021)
- Oregon (07/31/2021)
- Rhode Island (07/25/2021)
- Vermont (07/15/2021)
- Washington (09/30/2021)
States that have let their moratoriums expire since May 1st: Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.