On August 20, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) voted 2-1 to again extend the utility shut-off moratorium until October 1, 2020. In July, the three-person Commission extended the moratorium for only residential customers (which previously was set to expire on July 25) until September 1. The moratorium was originally implemented by Governor Evers in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and high unemployment rates and originally applied to all customer classes, including commercial and industrial.

According to a July PSCW survey of roughly 200 utilities, approximately one-third or 1.4 million residential households, are behind on their utility bills. PSC will continue their data collection efforts and require utilities submit disconnection plans and other customer data including specifics on disconnection notices, arrears balances and deferred payment agreements.

The Commission will revisit the moratorium again at their meeting on September 17.