National News
Utility shutoffs continue amid pandemic
The Washington Post reports a wave of utility shutoffs has begun, leaving sick or unemployed Americans behind $32 billion in utility bills.
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The Washington Post reports a wave of utility shutoffs has begun, leaving sick or unemployed Americans behind $32 billion in utility bills.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE. BACK TO YOU.>> WE WILL REAL YOU BACK IN.>>> THE NEWS CONTINUES, A WAVE OF UTILITY SHUT OFFS HAS BEGUN, THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST WHICH SAYS SICK OR UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS ARE BEHIND $32 BILLION IN UTILITY BILLS. JOHN MATARESE LOOKS INTO WHAT HAPPENS THROUGH THE MORATORIUM ON POWER SHUT OFF SO THAT YOU DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. >> Reporter: MOST STATES PASSED EMERGENCY LAWS IN THE PANDEMIC, BANNING EVICTIONS AND UTILITY SHUT OFFS. BUT NOW THOSE MORATORIUMS ARE COMING TO AN END AND MANY PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE FINDING THEIR OPTIONS RUNNING OUT. MICHELLE FIELD IS LIVING OFF BATTERIES AND BORROWED POWER AFTER HER ELECTRICITY WAS SHUT OFF.>> I DON'T HAVE $300 THEY NEED. >> Reporter: THE PART-TIME WAREHOUSE WORKERS THAT SHE WAS BATTLING COVID-19 AND OUT OF WORK FOR WEEKS. >> YOU DON'T GET MEDICAL PAY WHEN YOU ARE A TEMP.>> Reporter: NOW SHE'S SCRAPING BY. >> I'M CHARGING MY CELL PHONE IN THE TRUCK AND BORROWING ELECTRICITY TO KEEP THE FOOD FROM SPOILING. I ASKED THE NEIGHBOR IF I COULD PLUG IN AN EXTENSION CORD TO GET MY REFRIGERATOR TO KEEP IT COOL SO I DON'T LOSE MY GROCERIES.>> Reporter: WITHOUT THE MORATORIUM ON SHUT OFFS, UTILITIES HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF. THE PAY A FEW DOLLARS EVERY MONTH SOME PEOPLE BUT AS MICHELLE LEARNED, IF YOU FALL BEHIND ON THE PAYMENT PLAN? IT CAN BE LIGHTS OUT. THIS MAP FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UTILITY REGULATORS SHOWS 38 STATES WITH THE MORATORIUM EXPIRING OR VOLUNTARY. LAST MONTH, ANOTHER WOMAN LEARNED HOW QUICKLY LANDLORDS WERE FILING EVICTION NOTICES, WHEN THOSE MORATORIUMS EXPIRED. >> THE FIRST DAY HE COULD FILE EVICTION, HE DID IT. >> Reporter: MICHELLE HAS APPLIED FOR AID AND SHE NEEDS WEEKS TO GET IT. >> I JUST WANT TIME. >> Reporter: IF YOU'RE FALLING BEHIND, ASK FOR HELP AS AND AS