Gov. Tony Evers took action to stop utility disconnections for all customers due to nonpayment and block late fees.
He’s also directed DPI to suspend administrative rules relating to hours of instruction and student teacher assessments.
They’re just the latest steps the state has taken in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Evers’ order on the Public Service Commission expands the ban on disconnection for nonpayment to all customers, including commercial, industrial and farm accounts. It previously applied to residential accounts only.
Other impacts include:
*ceasing the practice of requiring deposits for reconnecting services;
*allowing deferred payment agreements for those who request them;
*authorizing water utilities to provide budget billing arrangements to customers similar to what electrical and natural gas utilities are allowed to offer.
The DPI order allows the streamlining of the waiver process for instruction at public schools and student teachers in preparation programs to graduate on time this spring. It also gives the agency flexibility to address upcoming due dates.
Over the weekend, Corrections announced it would no longer accept transfers to the state prison system, and Revenue announced it was pushing back the deadline to file state taxes to July 15.
See the releases here and here.
The state Supreme Court has largely postponed jury trials and in-person proceedings statewide.
Jury trials scheduled to begin between now and May 22 will be rescheduled after that date. Meanwhile, judges, commissioners and clerks are required to use email, teleconferencing and video conferencing instead of in-person courtroom appearances through at least April 30.
See the release here.
As of Sunday afternoon, the state was at 381 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four deaths.
Twenty-nine counties have confirmed cases.
See more here.
Click here for links to coronavirus resources.
