The D.C. metro area has just been pounded by another record-breaking snowstorm. President Obama is calling it “snowmageddon.” The accumulation surpassed 30 inches in some areas.

The time for emergency legislation imposing a winter moratorium on shutoffs of heat is now! Click here to write to the D.C. Council and the Public Service Commission demanding a winter moratorium on heat shutoffs.

Hundreds of thousands of metro area residents are without heat due to power outages. But even after the utility companies resolve the situation, there will be families who are without heat during this snowstorm because they fell behind on their bills and the utility giants have shut them off. Electricity rates in the District of Columbia have doubled since 2004.

Under current D.C. law, Pepco and Washington Gas have the right to shut any customer off for inability to pay as long as temperatures stay above 32 degrees on the day of disconnection. This means that, on a “warm” winter day, your heat could be shut off, and it will stay off regardless of how cold it gets until you can come up with the exorbitant sums demanded by the utility giants. According to the National Weather Service, D.C. experienced two weeks of above normal temperatures last month. 

At Justice First, we believe that heat and electricity are a right. A winter moratorium is just the first step—one that is urgently needed now.

Please click here to write to the D.C. Council and the Public Service Commission demanding emergency legislation for a winter moratorium on shutoffs of heat today.