Hawaiian Electric Light Company (HELCO) customers with past-due accounts will automatically be enrolled in a 12-month payment plan.
Affected customers should expect to see higher “current charges” when the first of 12 installments appears on their monthly statements starting in July. Customers will be notified when the payment plan will start, including an explanation of how the arrangement works and how to opt out if they wish.
“One-twelfth of the past-due balance must be paid every month over 12 months -- in addition to your current charges,” HELCO stated on its website. “On the first month of the installment plan, the 'amount due' will include your current charges plus 1/12 of your outstanding balance.”
As an example, HELCO explained, "If a customer has an outstanding balance of $1,200, divide the balance by number of months in payment plan. $1,200 divided by 12 = $100. If the current charge is $150, the customer owes $150 +$100. Total amount due will be $250. The customer must pay the additional 1/12 outstanding balance, plus current charge, for 12 consecutive months.”
Approximately, 3% of HELCO's residential and smaller commercial customers -- whose accounts meet the threshold for disconnection -- will be included in the automatic enrollment.
Other payment plan options are available for customers with past-due balances, including deferred-start four-month, six-month and 12-month equal installment plan, as well as 18-month equal installments, six-month equal installments and 4-month equal installments. Customers can check out these options and use the payment arrangement request form. The form and an informational flyer are available in multiple languages on HELCO's website.
The moratorium on disconnections set by the Public Utilities Commission ended on May 31. Now, collection activity starts in July for past-due HELCO customers who are not already enrolled in a payment plan.