Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
MADISON, WI -- The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted today to once again extend the utility disconnection moratorium for residential customers until November 1, 2020. The commission decided 2 - 1 to extend the moratorium in order to safeguard the public health of Wisconsin residents during the COVID-19 health crisis. The PSC had voted in March, July, and August to extend the moratorium due to the risk to people’s lives from the high level of COVID cases in the state.
The Sierra Club has been working with Wisconsin environmental and social justice advocates and members of local governments to request a continuance of the moratorium extension issued in March in response to the Coronavirus crisis. November 1 begins the regular winter moratorium, so with this decision to extend, utility heat and power shut offs are effectively halted until April 15, 2021.
In response, Wisconsin Chapter Chair Don Ferber released the following statement:
“We thank the PSC for extending the moratoriums on utility shut offs for another month. Now no families will face the danger of potentially freezing weather during cold October days and nights. With this decision, no Wisconsin family will be left without essential power and heat, but the work will continue to ensure that these utility bills do not saddle families, already burdened by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a mountain of debt they’re unable to escape come spring.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.