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PULP S TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMOUNT OWED BY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN ARREARS MIL 1 500 1 000 500 0 Feb 20 Aug 21 Since February of 2020 the start of the pandemic the amount owed by New York residential utility consumers grew 97 There are currently more than 1 2 million households in arrears sixty days or greater INDICATORS OF BROADBAND NEED AMONG LIFELINE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN 2019 Income Less Than Federal Poverty Level No Internet Access No Cellular Data Plan No Computer Smartphone or Tablet No Broadband No Telephone Service No Cellular Data AND No Broadband 907 158 604 195 505 712 454 544 Partnered with the State Legislature to create the most robust utility consumer protections since the Home Energy Fair Practices Act became law in 1981 Continued PULP s trainings and miniclinics virtually to ensure that consumers are informed of their public utility rights before during and after COVID 19 Petitioned the Public Service Commission to launch a special COVID 19 proceeding to contend with the arrears crisis and create actual bill discounts for residential consumers of all utilities and Achieved reforms to the State s LowIncome Affordability Program adding 100 000 households around the State and 120m in funding 194 Washington Avenue Suite 320 Albany NY 12210 Phone Number Fax 877 669 2572 357 641 73 104 26 207 Fast and affordable broadband is a pandemic necessity but while many New Yorkers qualify for discounted internet and telephone through the Lifeline program PULP s analysis shows that few are actually taking advantage of it info utilityproject org 2021 IMPACT REPORT Public Utility Law Project OF NEW YORK

In our and HEFPA s 40th year PULP focused on the COVID 19 pandemic as NYS witnessed an unprecedented spike in the number of New York households in utility arrears PULP s steadfast advocacy ensured consumers were protected from service shutoffs through December of 2021 and that their interests were well represented in rate cases despite business as usual approaches by regulators and the utilities PULP has had a great deal of success even in the face of the pandemic thanks to our vital partnerships and looks forward to continuing our efforts to advocate educate and litigate on behalf of New York s low and fixedincome communities 1 633 CONSUMER HOTLINE CALLS 43 NEW DIRECT SERVICE CASES OPENED 60 PRESS MENTIONS 8 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS 4 RATE CASES 3 NON RATE CASES 5 1 1 5 20 11 Bill Assistance Shared Meter Shutoff Notice DPA Dispute Cable Phone or Internet Issues Benefit Issue In PULP s 40th year we continue to expand direct service efforts to match the unprecedented need around the State The heating season begins November 1 and the HEAP program began October 1 so our work to aid the many low and fixed income consumers at risk of a shutoff is vital