Moratorium of nonpayment

Resolution for delay in non-payment disconnections and extended payment schedule passed this evening at the Utility Service Board Meeting.  More explanation to follow. Please call with questions:
PERU UTILITY SERVICE BOARDRESOLUTION #1, 2020
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020 the Governor of Indiana declared a public health emergency for Coronavirus Disease
2019 Outbreak (“COVID-19”) pursuant to IC, 10-14-3-12; andWHEREAS, on March 13,2020 the President of the United States declared a national emergency for the same; and 
WHEREAS, restrictions imposed by The State of Indiana to contain COVID-19 are economically harmful to customers of Peru Utilities;
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus may have harmful health and economic hardship for Peru Utilities customers;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PERU UTILITIES SERVICE BOARD; 
Section 1. A moratorium of all nonpayment service disconnections for Peru Water, Peru Wastewater, Grissom Water, Grissom Wastewater, Stormwater, and Electric will be implemented until April, 30th 2020. 
Section 2.  A moratorium of all late fees associated with nonpayment will be in effect after March 18th until  April, 30th 2020.  This resolution will not expunge late charges assessed prior to March 18th, 2020.
Section 3.  This resolution will be re-evaluated on or before April, 30th for the need of an extension of the nonpayment moratorium. This resolution shall grant the General Manager the authority to make the determination if an extension is required on a 30 day basis thereafter.
Section 4. The first billing cycle after the nonpayment disconnect moratorium ends, customers will have the ability to pay the past due balance divided equally over 3 billing cycles, along with the current months charges, or they will be disconnected for nonpayment. The customer is responsible for making payment arrangements with the Customer Service Staff for the extended payment period.  
Section 5.  Current, past due amounts, and disconnect notices will continue to appear on the bill to keep the customer informed of their account balance, however nonpayment disconnect action will not be taken during the moratorium. Peru Utilities strongly encourages customers to pay partial or full payments when possible during this time to avoid a precipitously higher bill at a later date.  
Adopted this 18th day of March 2020.