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Utilities tell committee disconnections have fallen since 2019; co-ops urge targeted assistance over blunt metrics
Summary
Utilities and cooperatives told the House committee that annual disconnect events fell from about 10,000 (pre-pandemic) to roughly 8,000; witnesses described notification processes, the timing of disconnect windows, Green Mountain Power's EAP program details (25% discount, eligibility at 185% FPL, up to two arrearage-forgiveness events), and cautioned about unintended consequences of rigid regulatory metrics.
Multiple utilities and electric cooperatives told the House Energy Digital Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 11 that disconnection activity and assistance programs are complex and improving, and they urged careful policy design for H.753.
Candice Morgan of Green Mountain Power said GMP’s total annual disconnects have fallen from around 10,000 in 2019 to about 8,000 now, and that most disconnected customers are reconnected the same day. "The vast majority of those are reconnected to the same day as well," she said, adding the utility estimates same-day reconnection in the mid- to high‑80 percent range. Morgan attributed the pandemic moratorium and targeted state recovery dollars (roughly $20 million statewide, she said) to temporary shifts in arrearages and disconnect counts.
Morgan walked the committee through…
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