PSE offering immediate financial assistance to customers
By Ike Everard | Ike@whereweconverge.com
Washington’s Utility and Transportation Commission moratorium comes to an end on July 31st. This means beginning on that day, companies can begin enforcing penalties on customers who have outstanding balances on their accounts.
Carol Wallace of Puget Sound Energy stopped by the Morning Update Show to talk about what her company is doing to help out individuals who may be impacted by the end of the moratorium.
Carol Wallace of PSE on the set of the Morning Update Show with Omari Salisbury
PSE has been running the COVID Bill Assistance Program throughout the pandemic, and Wallace wants customers to know that they can still apply for financial relief up throughout the months of June and July.
“It’s a really important help for people who just can’t pay that past due bill because there’s a lot of customers in our area that haven’t been able to pay over the period of the pandemic,” Wallace said.
The program provides up to $2,500 per qualified customer. If you’ve already received funds you can still re-apply.
Customers who qualify for financial assistance are those who are at or below 200% of the national poverty line. Wallace says the income cutoff is around $3,500 a month for a family of four.
Carol Wallace on the Morning Update Show
Even customers who don’t qualify for credit can request a payment plan of up to 18 months, which PSE says they’ll provide with no questions asked. They also have waived late and re-connect fees.
“We’re really just trying to have every customer understand that if you need help, you can get help,” Wallace said. “It’s really important that you reach out.”
Wallace said that customers in need of assistance should act now, but that the roll-out of penalties will be staggered so negative community impact is minimized. She emphasized the desire of the company to help everyone who needs it, and that help is available both online and over the phone.
“We’re really proud that we’ve been able to help our customers,” Wallace said. “I would like everyone who needs assistance to reach out to us at PSE.”