Consumer advocates want Gov. Eric Holcomb to extend its winter moratorium on disconnects for three months giving local nonprofits time to address a backlog of applications for assistance.
Consumer advocates want Gov. Eric Holcomb to extend the winter moratorium on utility disconnects for three months giving local nonprofits time to address a backlog of applications for assistance.
Credit Justin Hicks / IPB News
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 551 additional confirmed deaths over the last week – the most reported in a single week during the pandemic, and nearly double the high reported in April. That brings the state’s total to 6,495 confirmed deaths. ISDH also reported nearly 43,000 new cases in the last week.
Since moving to Stage 5 of its reopening plan on Sept. 26, the state has reported 308,067 positive cases and 3,105 confirmed deaths – 72.4 percent of the state’s total positive cases and 47.8 percent of deaths of the state’s pandemic totals.
The state’s hospital census has dropped for the last five days, to 3,108 Hoosiers hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday – the lowest since Nov. 19.
Nonprofits Struggle To Address Increased Demand For Help With Utility Bills
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Article origination IPBS-RJC
Under Indiana law, Hoosiers who apply for the federally funded Energy Assistance Program can’t have their electric or natural gas service disconnected from Dec. 1 through March 15.
Lauren Chapman/IPB News
As colder temperatures drive up utility bills, many people unemployed because of COVID-19 are still having trouble paying them. Local nonprofit agencies say getting Hoosiers the financial help they need is proving challenging.
They say they’re hearing from more people with overdue utility bills and at higher amounts than in the past.