COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is prepared to help ease the burden of utility expenses for furloughed federal employees during the federal government shutdown.
“While we can’t reduce or cancel out billings, we can work with our customers who have been furloughed to ensure their utility services remain on while they aren’t collecting paychecks,” said Deputy Utility anager Joann Gentry.
How will DPU help?
The DPU will work with furloughed customers in much the same way as department staff worked with customers who experienced interruptions in pay during the COVID-19 Pandemic. DPU’s Customer Care Center staff are prepared to coordinate with customers to set up pay arrangements to ease the burden of bills that may be larger than the customers can currently manage. Additionally, with proof of federal employment or employment with federal contractors, these customers will be protected from disconnection during the shutdown.
Two moratoriums
The moratorium for furloughed employees overlaps with the winter moratorium observed by DPU every year. Per DPU Rule 13.06, certain customers are eligible for protection from utility service disconnection between November 15 and March 15. These customers include those who have provided DPU with proof of LIHEAP eligibility or who meet eligibility requirements for DPU’s Utility Assistance Program (UAP). LIHEAP is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that is administered through the New Mexico Health Care Authority.
How long will the furlough moratorium last?
Federal employees who have provided DPU with proof of federal employment will be protected from disconnection throughout the duration of the federal shutdown. They are strongly encouraged to make regular payments toward pay arrangements to prevent situations in which multiple unpaid bills are due all at once when the shutdown ends.
Steps to put moratorium protection in place
If you would like to take advantage of these protections, you should first gather recent documentation, such as a pay stub (pay values may be redacted), of your federal or contract employment.
Next, you should contact the Customer Care Center to alert billing staff of your furlough and discuss a manageable pay arrangement schedule.
Fill out the online form at: https://ladpu.com/FFEM