EMERGENCY – Take Action Now to Keep the Electricity on in Rockland

After the State ordered moratorium on utility shut-offs expired on March 15, Orange & Rockland is taking action. Given the over 30 million dollars in outstanding bills owed, more than three times the normal amount O&R has carried in the past, the company feels it is high time to collect, and they are going about it aggressively.

Even working together, Rockland’s various chesed organizations are staggering under the combined burden as families suddenly find themselves without electricity and no way to pay the huge sums required.
“We are being inundated with calls,” says Avi Goldstein, Tomche Shabbos Director of Development. “Nine homes alone in the 10952-zip code were shut off this week so far. Our message to those who have outstanding bills with O&R and still have their power on is to reach out to Orange & Rockland Customer Service Department as soon as possible to negotiate a payment plan. Once the electricity is off, they are not going to turn it back on without a substantial payment upfront.”

So far, O&R has shown it is willing to negotiate a 24-month payment plan, even for those with significant bills, as long as the power has not been shut down. Once the power is off, there is no negotiating.

Customers who apply for HEAP are granted a stay of 30 days, so eligible families should try applying for HEAP to gain more time.