Sen. Markey calling for utility moratorium to help families struggling during the pandemic

BOSTON — Senator Ed Markey is calling for a moratorium so utility companies cannot shut off your heat, water or electricity after the economic havoc caused by the coronavirus.

“I definitely think it’s a good idea. Any type of help that we can get. It’s definitely needed,” said Natacha Bernard of Roslindale.

Bernard supports Sen. Markey’s call for a moratorium to help struggling families.

In a recent tweet, Markey wrote, “Nearly 1 in 5 people have fallen behind on their electric and gas bills… We need a nationwide moratorium on utility shutoffs to protect all of these families.”

Massachusetts has a moratorium in place through March, but it’s tied to cold weather. Markey’s effort is tied to the pandemic.

“We are teetering on the edge of a financial cliff that’s forcing already vulnerable households to make the impossible decisions of putting food on the table, covering rent or keeping the heat on thru the cold winter months,” said Markey in a recent online interview with groups who run assistance programs in the state.

The President of ABCD, the Action for Boston Community Development, a fuel assistance program, said the need is dire.

“We need people to have most of their fuel bills this winter covered by LIHEAP so they can have some ability to pay the rent.”

LIHEAP is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It’s one way fuel assistance is funded. Markey has also proposed adding money to a coronavirus package to help people pay utilities as well as a moratorium on shutoffs.

But now there’s an effort to push President Biden to sign an executive order directing the CDC to use the Public Health Service Act to keep utilities from shutting off the lights, water or heat during the pandemic.

That idea has support in the halls of Congress and on the streets.

“They need it at the federal level. It needs to be mandated,” said Sarah Henderson of Roslindale.

And Bernard agreed, saying, “I definitely want him to put it through.”

Cox Media Group