Human Rights Measure

A letter from the Chairman of the Department of Public Utilities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts addressed to, among others, “the investor-owned water distribution companies . . .  regulated by the Department of Public Utilities” ordered that “[u]ntil July 1, 2021, or you receive further communication under section 4B of chapter 25 of the General Laws, whichever comes first” these companies “shall not shut off gas, electric, or water service to any of their residential customers for failure to pay a bill or any portion of a bill the Companies issued to a customer” and “all communications to residential customers that discuss the shut off of gas, electric, or water service for failure to pay a bill or any portion of a bill the Companies issued to a customer shall (1) state that residential shutoffs for nonpayment shall not occur until or after July 1, 2021 and (2) list all payment and repayment programs and debt-forgiveness options available to residential customers.”