Press Releases

Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At-Large) introduced the Preventing Unnecessary Deaths During Life-Threatening Events (PUDDLE) Act to protect families from electricity shutoffs during heat waves and cold snaps.

Under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), electric utilities are prohibited from disconnecting electricity due to overdue bills when it poses a health risk. This legislation would clarify that these protections must include extreme hot and cold weather events.

Currently, 19 states and D.C. have shutoff moratoriums for both cold and hot weather, 26 states only have cold weather shutoff moratoriums, and 5 states have neither, leaving nearly half of all Americans at risk. While Washington previously had cold weather policies in place, in 2023, the state enacted a law to prevent shutoffs during extreme heat as well. This bill would ensure that all states implement these life-saving utility shutoff protections.

There has been an increase in extreme weather in Washington in recent years, with 157 deaths recorded during the 2021 heat wave, the deadliest weather-related event in state history. Our planet has experienced 13 straight months of unprecedented temperatures, the hottest year ever seen, and July 21, 2024, was the highest-ever recorded global average temperature. This summer, communities across the United States have experienced record-breaking heat waves.

“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe nationwide, leaving families vulnerable to utility shutoffs during dangerous weather,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “It is unacceptable that over 164 million Americans live in states that don’t offer comprehensive protections against disconnections during both cold and heat. Our legislation would bridge these gaps, ensuring every state provides critical protections for families during extreme weather events.”

“No family should have to experience their utilities being shut off during an extreme weather event. We know that the climate crisis has made dangerous temperatures more common, so it’s on Congress to help protect families from potential utility shutoffs when they need these life-saving resources the most. This is especially true for Black and minority families that are disproportionately impacted by shutoffs,” said Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to join Rep. DelBene in reintroducing this important legislation that creates shutoff moratoriums for both cold and hot weather, protecting families in Delaware and across the country.”

“The additional protections against rising summer temperatures contained in this bill are long overdue and will help to protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable households,” said Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, National Energy Assistance Directors Association. “These protections are especially important now that we’ve had yet another year of record hot temperatures and all signs point to continued heat waves into the future placing families who can’t afford the cost of energy at risk of shut-off.”

Currently, over one in six households – more than 20 million families – are behind on their utility bills.

Low-income and minority communities are disproportionately affected by utility shutoffs. For example, Black households are twice as likely as white households to face utility shutoffs.

The legislation is supported by nearly 30 organizations including the New Democrat Coalition, National Energy Assistance Directors Association, League of Conservation Voters, El Centro de la Raza, Center for Biological Diversity, Statewide Poverty Action Network, Washington Build Back Black Alliance, Public Justice Center, Interfaith Power and Light, and 350.org.

You can read the bill text here.