{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"A model for the nation: Consumer advocates announce historic COVID-19 relief plan for Illinois utility customers | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HINmAHjVTI\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/newcovid19consumerprotections\/\">A model for the nation: Consumer advocates announce historic COVID-19 relief plan for Illinois utility customers<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/newcovid19consumerprotections\/embed\/#?secret=HINmAHjVTI\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;A model for the nation: Consumer advocates announce historic COVID-19 relief plan for Illinois utility customers&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"HINmAHjVTI\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;A model for the nation: Consumer advocates announce historic COVID-19 relief plan for Illinois utility customers&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text] [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2020 CONTACT: Jim Chilsen, (o) 312-263-4282, (c) 312-513-1784 Presented with a historic agreement between consumer advocates and Illinois\u2019 major utilities, state regulators are now considering one of the most comprehensive COVID-19 utility-focused relief measures in the country. This relief plan could serve as a national model for helping utility customers struggling to pay their bills during a pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a broad coalition of consumer groups and government officials announced Thursday. \u00a0 The relief plan is expected to be approved next week by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). In addition to extending the halt on utility shut-offs and late fees through the summer, consumer advocates say the negotiated plan also reconnects customers without slapping them with fees, provides longer payment plans, and offers significant bill-payment assistance to help people catch up on their bills as Illinois begins recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. \u00a0 The plan was negotiated by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul\u2019s office; Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot\u2019s office; Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), represented by the National Consumer Law Center; the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services; Allen Cherry, a longtime advocate for low-income utility customers in Illinois; and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). Those groups were concerned that the pandemic, which forced many people out of work and into their homes, would lead to an overwhelming number of consumers unable to afford their electric, gas and water bills under existing strict utility credit and collection rules, and would cause potential mass disconnections from utility services that are vital to consumers\u2019 health and welfare.\u00a0 &#8220;Illinois residents are still experiencing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d Attorney General Raoul said. \u201cMy office advocated on behalf of consumers not only to ensure residents will have access to manageable repayment plans and bill assistance so that they stay connected to vital utility services, but also to provide regulators with data to assess whether particular communities, including communities of color, are being disproportionately impacted by a utility&#8217;s disconnection and credit and collections processes.\u201d \u201cThe COVID-19 crisis has greatly exacerbated many of the financial hardships thousands of Chicagoans were already facing in their everyday lives, forcing many to choose between paying for their utilities, their food, or other essential costs, all while facing the prospect of incurring crippling levels of debt,\u201d said Mayor Lightfoot. \u201cI am proud to be joining the many public leaders and consumer advocates in creating this relief plan and setting a nationwide example on how cities and states can work together to help uplift our communities during this unprecedented time and provide solutions that keep our families safe, healthy, and on the path to success.\u201d \u201cParents were already drowning as a result of the high costs of utilities. COVID-19 has added a heavier weight.\u00a0 It is imperative that utilities throw financially challenged communities a lifeline to ease the burden of utilities we need for basic survival,\u201d said Rosazlia Grillier, COFI parent leader.\u00a0 [&hellip;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png","thumbnail_width":254,"thumbnail_height":254}