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Utilities propose ending payment‑plan stay after one missed installment; advocates warn of affordability harms
Summary
Avangrid and Eversource proposed ending flexible payment arrangements after a single missed payment (down from two), saying many arrangements see 0–1 payments and that shorter default periods could reduce growing arrears. Advocates warned the change would make already unaffordable monthly obligations impossible for many households.
Avangrid and Eversource told PURA they are proposing to change flexible payment arrangements so that a plan would be removed after one missed payment rather than two. Stephanie Chasse of Avangrid said company data show that a large share of customers on payment arrangements make zero or one payments in a plan term, and that the current protections can extend nonpayment stretches that allow balances to grow.
Chasse said the change would not apply to the Matching Payment Program (MPP), which has separate rules, but would apply to non‑hardship flexible payment arrangements. Companies argued the change would reduce the unintended consequence of extended nonpayment visibility and allow more sustainable payment arrangements to be negotiated. Consumer advocates and several public commenters responded that many plans are already unaffordable for the lowest‑income customers; they urged PURA to prioritize income‑based terms and improvements to outreach rather than shorter default windows. Companies agreed to provide further data on renegotiation outcomes and success metrics upon request.
