Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is extending its suspension of service disconnections and late fees for nonpayment through the end of the year to provide additional flexibility for customers facing financial hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.
TEP began its voluntary suspension in March in response to the public health crisis. Since then, the company has provided payment extensions, enrollment in short-term assistance and bill discount programs for qualifying limited-income customers. TEP and sister company UniSource Energy Services also donated a combined $1 million to bill payment assistance and other coronavirus relief efforts in communities across Arizona.
TEP’s voluntary suspension will last longer than the moratorium approved last year by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which prohibits the disconnection of residential electric service from June 1 through October 15. TEP will create payment plans for residential customers with overdue balances after Oct. 15 – a step in the ACC-approved process – to provide customers with additional time and a structured way to pay down balances.
“We know that many families and small businesses are facing financial hardships right now, so we want to be as flexible as we can to support them,” said Susan Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer. “We also want to help customers avoid falling too far behind on bills during this difficult period.”
Customers with overdue balances are encouraged to call 520-623-7711 for assistance with payment extensions or customer assistance programs. Automated bill extensions may be available online to qualifying customers.
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 432,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.
News Media ContactJoseph Barrios520-884-3725jbarrios@tep.com
