KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News WeatherCalif makes it harder for utilities to cut service
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California has made it tougher for utilities to cut service to customers struggling to pay bills.
The Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Thursday to bar utilities from demanding additional deposits from low-income customers and requires them to inform customers behind on bills that they have a right to arrange payment plans.
Customers who have been disconnected but don't qualify for low-income programs will get reductions in deposits needed to reconnect service.
Nearly 70,000 households in California have their electricity or gas service disconnected each month. The number of customers denied service has jumped dramatically in recent years because of the recession and high unemployment rates.
Information from: San Jose Mercury News, http://www.sjmercury.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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