FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 29, 2020 Contact: info@champaigncountydems.com
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY DEMOCRATS DEMAND UTILITY SHUTOFF MORATORIUM EXTENSION
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, IL — Champaign County Democratic Party precinct committee people approved a resolution demanding the Illinois Commerce Commission extend the moratorium on gas, electricity, and water shutoffs through the duration of the pandemic. The Champaign County Democratic Central Committee includes both elected and appointed precinct committee members from throughout Champaign County.
Earlier this year, the Illinois Commerce Commission announced that several utilities participated in an extension through the end of August. However, as the pandemic continues, families and community organizations are still struggling, now threatening to lose vital utility service. Services that agreed to the August extension include Ameren Illinois, Illinois American Water, and Aqua Illinois. All of those serve customers in central Illinois. Other utilities taking part include ComEd, Nicor, Peoples Gas, and North Shore Gas, Utilities Services of Illinois, and Liberty.
Governor JB Pritzker has led by example and enacted several successful statewide policies that successfully reduced the transmission rate. However, Illinois remains the 6th most impacted state by COVID-19 with more than 294,000 reported cases and nearly 9,000 deaths. Now, an extended moratorium is needed to help families protect themselves and their families and slow the spread.
"Public health officials agree that hand washing and disinfecting your home is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Without water, high-risk populations, including the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions are more vulnerable to the virus. It’s vital that this moratorium be extended now. Illinois has done a heroic job of combatting the virus. It’s not time to backslide by denying access to water, gas and electricity” said Carol Ammons, Chair of the Champaign County Democratic Committee.
Water shutoffs disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color, and Illinois’ poverty rate is currently at 10.9%. Even worse, chronic health conditions are climbing in the state, making water shutoffs during COVID-19 even deadlier.
The urgency of this moratorium is amplified after the failure of Senate Republicans to pass additional stimulus funding for struggling families. For this reason, in addition to the moratorium extension, Champaign County Democratic Central Committee members also request the immediate restoration of water service to all homes previously disconnected for nonpayment, as well as waiving of all late fees, penalties, service restoration fees, and water rate increases.
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