A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE RESUMPTION OF UTILITY DISCONNECTIONS IN ILLINOIS TO BE A PANDEMIC SAFETY RISK
WHEREAS, a new and significant outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), a novel severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among people through respiratory transmissions, emerged in late 2019; and,
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a public health emergency and declared it a worldwide pandemic on March 11, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary declared a public health emergency for the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Illinois issued a Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation declaring all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on March 9, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a National Emergency concerning the COVID-19 virus; and,
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, the Governor of the State of Illinois issued Executive Order 2020-10 entitled Executive Order in Response to COVID-19, and has issued many Executive Orders regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency since that date; and,
WHEREAS, over 81,000 households’ utility services were disconnected from September 24th through November of 2020 in Illinois [8-39] ; and,
WHEREAS, from October 1st to October 29th undesirable coronavirus metrics increased including caseloads increased 151%, hospitalizations increased 73%, intensive care unit admissions increased 61%, patients on ventilator increased 63%, and deaths increased 82% [1] ; and,
WHEREAS, over 2,091 households’ utility services were disconnected from September 24th through November of 2020 in the Champaign County [10-15,39] ; and,
WHEREAS, restricting access to utilities based on ability to pay hinders the public efforts in regards to other priorities including COVID-19 containment and tracing; and,
WHEREAS, over 960 water disconnections have continued to happen in the Champaign County after the voluntary moratorium was announced by the Illinois Commerce Commission on November 25th [2-7,39] ; and,
WHEREAS, the Governor of Illinois has the authority from 20 ILCS 3305 Sec 7 (12) to enact a mandatory moratorium on utility disconnections from all providers, including private corporations, municipal utilities, cooperatives, and all other utilities providers; and,
WHEREAS, the Illinois bill HB2877, the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act, includes direct federal apportions to rent and utility providers and has already passed the House of Representatives; and,
WHEREAS, the latest data on vaccinations provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health on April 24th, 2021, states that we have only fully vaccinated 29.21% of the Illinois population; and,
WHEREAS, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has fully vaccinated 38.47% of the Champaign County population and has the 5th highest vaccination rate out of all counties in the state of Illinois.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby proclaimed and declared:
SECTION 1. That there is a public health emergency caused by the contagious COVID- 19 virus.
SECTION 2. The public health emergency is related to the COVID-19 virus which is causing or anticipated to cause widespread impacts on the financial health of members of the community.
SECTION 3. That the Champaign County Democratic Party calls on the Illinois Senate to pass HB2877 to relieve Illinoisan rent and utility debt.
SECTION 4. That the Champaign County Democratic Party declares the termination and disconnection of utility service by any utility provider, whether private for-profit, non-profit, public, or co-operative, for failure to pay for such service constitutes a pandemic safety risk until we have reached at least herd immunity and appropriated the Federal funds made available from HB2877.
SECTION 5. That the Champaign County Democratic Party calls on the Illinois Governor to enact a mandatory moratorium on utility disconnections without means-testing.
REFERENCES
Increase in coronavirus measures in Illinois on October 29th relative to October 1st (https://twitter.com/GovPritzker/status/1321906013142921217)
Aqua Illinois, Inc. Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for February 2021 pursuant to Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/309111/files/538775.pdf)
Illinois-American Water Company Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for February 2021 pursuant to Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/309077/files/538729.pdf)
Aqua Illinois, Inc.'s Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (January 2021 data) pursuant to Stipulation Paragraph 12.b (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/307962/files/536925.pdf)
Compliance Filing to the Commission’s June 18, 2020 Order and the June 10, 2020 Stipulation on behalf of Illinois-American Water Company for January 2021 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/307957/files/536914.pdf)
Aqua Illinois, Inc. Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (December 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/306927/files/534998.pdf)
Illinois American Water Company Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (December 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/306921/files/534990.pdf)
Utility Services of Illinois, Inc.'s Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for September 2020 pursuant to Stipulation Paragraph 12.b to the Commission’s June 18, 2020 Order (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304221/files/530427.pdf)
Aqua Illinois, Inc.'s Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for September 2020 pursuant to Stipulation Paragraph 12.b (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304216/files/530420.pdf)
Illinois-American Water Company Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (November 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305991/files/533489.pdf)
Ameren Illinois Company's Monthly Credit and Collections Report in Compliance with Paragraphs 12(a) and 12(c) of the Stipulation pursuant to Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 for November 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305994/files/533498.pdf)
Illinois-American Water Company Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (October 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305101/files/532015.pdf)
Ameren Illinois Company's Monthly Credit and Collections Report in Compliance with Paragraphs 12(a) and 12(c) of the Stipulation pursuant to Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 for October 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305093/files/532001.pdf)
Ameren Illinois Company's Monthly Credit and Collections Report in Compliance with Paragraphs 12(a) and 12(c) of the Stipulation pursuant to Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 for September 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304235/files/530447.pdf)
Illinois-American Water Company's Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for September 2020 pursuant to Stipulation Paragraph 12.b (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304217/files/530422.pdf)
Aqua Illinois, Inc. Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (November 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305990/files/533487.pdf)
Utility Services of Illinois, Inc.'s Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report for November 2020 pursuant to Stipulation Paragraph 12.b to the Commission’s June 18, 2020 Order (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305986/files/533479.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Paragraph 12 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 to its June 18, 2020 Order on behalf of Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company for November 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305997/files/533504.pdf)
Compliance Filing Consumers Gas Company pursuant to paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 to the Commission’s June 18, 2020 Order for the month of November 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305993/files/533494.pdf)
North Shore Gas Company Monthly Credit and Collections Data for November 2020 per Section 12 of the Appendix 1. Large Utility Group Stipulation pursuant to the Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305981/files/533471.pdf)
The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company Monthly Credit and Collections Data for November 2020 per Section 12 of the Appendix 1. Large Utility Group Stipulation pursuant to the Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305981/files/533472.pdf)
Compliance Filing November 2020 to Paragraph 12 and Exhibit 1 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 in June 18, 2020 Order of Commonwealth Edison Company (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305992/files/533492.pdf)
Compliance Filing Consumers Gas Company pursuant to paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 to the Commission’s June 18, 2020 Order for the month of October 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305121/files/532064.pdf)
North Shore Gas Company Monthly Credit and Collections Data for October 2020 per Section 12 of the Appendix 1. Large Utility Group Stipulation pursuant to the Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305113/files/532051.pdf)
The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company Monthly Credit and Collections Data for October 2020 per Section 12 of the Appendix 1. Large Utility Group Stipulation pursuant to the Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020
(https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305113/files/532052.pdf)
Compliance Filing October 2020 to Paragraph 12 and Exhibit 1 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 in June 18, 2020 Order of Commonwealth Edison Company (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305110/files/532043.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Paragraph 12 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 to its June 18, 2020 Order on behalf of Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company for October 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305106/files/532030.pdf)
Utility Services of Illinois, Inc. Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (October 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305103/files/532019.pdf)
Aqua Illinois, Inc. Compliance Filing Monthly Credit and Collections Data Report (October 2020 data) (Stipulation Paragraph 12.b of the June 10, 2020 Stipulation) (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/305092/files/531997.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Paragraph 12 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 to its June 18, 2020 Order on behalf of Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company for September 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304276/files/530508.pdf)
Consumer Gas Company's Compliance Filing pursuant to Paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 of the Commission's June 18, 2020 Order for September 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304270/files/530495.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020, Section 12 of the Exhibit 1 -Large Utility Group Stipulation for North Shore Gas Company (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304241/files/530453.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Commission's Order dated June 18, 2020, Section 12 of the Exhibit 1 - Large Utility Group Stipulation for The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304241/files/530454.pdf)
Compliance Filing to Paragraph 12 and Exhibit 1 of the Large Utility Stipulation as Appendix 1 in June 18, 2020 Order of Commonwealth Edison Company for September 2020 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/304230/files/530438.pdf)
Consumer Gas Company's Compliance Filing pursuant to Paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 of the Commission's June 18 Order for August 2020
(https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/303196/files/528718.pdf)
Compliance Filing to paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 to the Commission’s June 18 Order on behalf of Consumers Gas Company for July 2020
(https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/302261/files/526912.pdf)
Illinois Gas Monthly Report for months of April - December 2020 and January - February 2021 (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/309098/files/538760.pdf)
Liberty Utilities (Midstates Natural Gas) Corp. Monthly Report for December 2020 pursuant to paragraph 24 of Appendix 2 to the Commission’s Order (https://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/P2020-0309/documents/306920/files/534988.pdf)
NoAmerenShutoffs Utility Disconnections Database (accumulations of the aforementioned Illinois Commerce Commision Reports digitized into a Google Sheet) (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XJLL9iDcgJgM11CAfa1I4Q5Yw2xiV7RAG4rT4PdRT r4/edit?usp=sharing)