Water Shut Off Protections for Non-Payments Continuing Into the Holidays
In April, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-42-20 which set a moratorium on the shut off of water service to customers due to non-payment during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the state iterated the importance of water in the prevention of COVID-19. Additionally, the order required for the restoration of water service to customers who previously had their water cut off after March 4, 2020.
On October 30, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) held a joint meeting to update Californians on the moratorium on water shut-offs in the State, as well as an update on COVID-19 fiscal impacts on water customers and water systems throughout the state.
During the joint meeting, both the Water Board and the CPUC have stated that the current ban on water shut-offs due to non-payment will remain in place coming into the holidays and into 2021 for the time being as Californians continue to feel the impacts of COVID-19.
In addition to the moratorium, the State Water Board launched a website for customers in California where they can report any water shut-off that occurs while the moratorium is in place. Additionally, the Water Board presented some responses received from their “Covid-19 Water Shut Off Report” website. The Water Board mentioned that some of the key issues reported so far by water customers have been:
Shut off language on late bill notices;
Landlords requesting shut-offs despite units being occupied; and
Longstanding shut-offs due to ownership and occupancy disputes.
We held a webinar on December 3 at 5pm for those who wanted to learn more about California’s Moratorium on Water Shutoffs.
If you or you know someone who has had their water service shut off for unknown reasons, or for reasons similar to those above, the Water Board requests that customers report them through the website (see below for the link).
If you would like to learn more about water issues that PSR-LA is working on, email mrincon@psr-la.org to be added to our water outreach list for future updates, actions, meetings, and events.
Resources:
Report a water shut-off: https://watershut-off.covid19.ca.gov
Water Shut Off Moratorium, Frequently Asked Questions for Customers and Water Systems: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/publications_forms/publications/factsheets/docs/covid-19/20200402_faq_factsheet_water_shutoffs.pdf
Executive Order N-42-20: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/4.2.20-EO-N-42-20.pdf
Water Board and CPUC Joint Meeting Broadcast, October 30, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5iAlxvk6g&feature=youtu.be
