In Maine, Utilities Stay On During Winter Months
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According to the Maine Utility Regulators, Mainers who make an attempt to pay their utility bills will not have them shutoff during the winter. The grace period runs from November 15, 2009 to April 15, 2010.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) states that Mainers who contact their gas or electricity company, or the PUC, to make reasonable payments will be exempt from having their utilities disconnected during the winter months. The PUC’s Consumer Assistance Division will help with affordable payment arrangements and find financial assistance for those in need.
Special arrangements can be made to help offset the immediate cost of high utility bills through a payment plan. The assistance helps spread the high cost of utilities during the winter over the course of the calendar year. The entire back bill must be paid in full by November 1st of the following year.
If you receive a notice saying that a utility is being shut off due to lack of payment, first and foremost call and speak with the utility company. Their phone number will be on the notice you receive or a past bill. If the situation does not get resolved, call the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine PUC at 1-800-452-4699, or visit them online to file a complaint at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/consumer/file_complaint.shtml.
If you contact the Consumer Assistance Division before your disconnect date your utilities will stay on while they investigate the matter. You will need to keep making payments or make arrangements to pay while the investigation is ongoing, but doing so will keep your utilities on. If legal help is needed, the Pine Tree Legal Assistance is available to help.
For more information on how to ensure your utilities stay on during the upcoming cold Maine winter, please contact the Maine Public Utilities Commission at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/.
