By Julia Mason, Beyond Coal Campaign Volunteer
Utilities all across the state are currently prohibited from shutting off service for non-payment, but those protections are scheduled to end on July 28th. If Governor Jay Inslee doesn't intervene, thousands of Washingtonians could be left unable to afford their electric, internet, and water bills.
Without decisive action, Washington residents will be left unprotected and vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak. After receiving a letter from 60 other environmental, labor, and justice groups, including the Sierra Club, the Governor’s office extended the moratorium past its original deadline of May 4th. Now, the Sierra Club is fighting to ensure that all Washington residents are protected from losing essential services for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak by extending the moratorium until the end of the year.
With entire sectors of the economy shut down, record numbers of people are losing their jobs and have no way to keep the lights on and water running. This is unacceptable; no one should have to go without electricity and water in the midst of a pandemic. Washington State needs a moratorium on utility shut-offs because it is integral to a clean energy future, protects public health, and upholds environmental justice principles.
A moratorium on utility shut-offs is critical for a just transition to clean energy. In order to support clean energy and move utilities away from fossil fuels, we first need to make sure that utilities are keeping the lights on and water running for everyone. Renewable energy is reliable and cheap enough to keep the lights on for all Washingtonians -- but our state’s most polluting utilities are invested in keeping us all in the dark about the real motives behind their interest in continuing to invest in fossil fuels. If clean energy is seen as a luxury good, utilities can keep pretending that fossil fuels are cheaper and more reliable -- which costs us all in the end. Ending utility shut-offs is an important step towards ensuring that all members of our community are included in the benefits of a more sustainable energy system.
A moratorium on utility shut-offs is essential to public health and environmental justice because shut-offs cut vulnerable populations off from the ability to take basic precautions against contracting or spreading COVID-19. Utility shut-offs take place behind closed doors. They may not be as visible as miles-long lines at food banks, but the problem they represent is no less real for the families who lack the means to cook, wash their hands, or do distance learning. As the COVID-19 crisis exposes cracks in our social and economic systems, it's crucial that we protect the most vulnerable populations while advancing our vision of a healthy, safe future with clean energy for all.
Currently, Washington has a moratorium on utility shut-offs until July 28th and there is no comprehensive plan to address the economic hardship of bills coming due when folks have not had a chance to get back to work. The pandemic is both a health and economic crisis. Our Governor has shown great leadership in response to the health crisis — it is now time to do the same for the long-term economic impacts we will face.
We must not simply recover, we must move forward.
Here are two ways you can take action:
1.) Right now, we are collecting the stories of people who have experienced utility shut-offs to share with legislators and the public. If you or someone you know has been affected, please consider sharing your story by filling out this survey.