In Pennsylvania, the pandemic-related moratorium for nonpayment for residential customers at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) ended Wednesday. FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utilities will resume collection activities for these customers, including disconnections, today.

Disconnections for nonpayment of all other customer groups started mid-December 2020.

Officials said the company will make good faith efforts to reach all customers at risk of a shutoff for nonpayment via mail, email, phone and in person in some cases.

Customers will receive a 10 day disconnect notice on or after April 1 depending on their billing cycle, and all affected customers will be notified in time to contact us to make a payment plan or apply for assistance.

FirstEnergy remains committed to helping customers who are facing economic hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic and continues to encourage customers who are having difficulty making ends meet to contact their utility to enroll in a payment plan or apply for bill assistance programs. Beginning April 1, 2021 the pandemic related moratorium for nonpayment will be lifted and West Penn Power will resume collection activities, including possible disconnections.

FirstEnergy is conducting an outreach campaign encouraging payment troubled customers to apply for assistance. We are also preparing a news release detailing available assistance, payment plans, qualifying income levels, and promoting the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Customer payment plans will adhere to the following guidelines:

Residential customers below 250% of the FPL will be offered payment arrangements with a length of 5 years;

Residential customers with incomes between 250% and 300% of FPL will be offered payment arrangements with a length of 2 years;

Residential customers with incomes over 300% of FPL will be offered payment arrangements with a length of 1 year;

Small business customers will be offered payment arrangements with a length of 18 months;

Customers may agree to or request a shorter payment arrangement.

Also available to customers in need of assistance is the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which assists renters who are having trouble making ends meet with rental or utility costs or arrearages and other related housing expenses. Pennsylvanians can apply for the program online at www.compass.state.pa.us.