Jennifer Bailey,
Director of Treasury
Customers Previously Disconnected Asked to Contact Utility Immediately
INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group is asking customers whose utility services have been turned off for non-payment to call the utility at **(317) 924-3311 **to have their service reconnected. Citizens will work to reconnect customers as soon as possible.
“Because of the importance of hand washing and hygiene during the COVID-19 emergency, Citizens urges all customers without water and/or natural gas service to call us immediately,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “During this serious public health emergency, Citizens is working to do everything it can to help customers in need.”
Citizens will accept whatever payment customers can make to reconnect their service and will use assistance from various sources to help with the outstanding balances until those funds are depleted. Because of the nature of this crisis, preference for reconnection will be given to water and wastewater customers first, then natural gas customers.
Citizens also is suspending utility disconnections during the COVID-19 public health emergency, in accordance with an executive order issued on March 19 by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. The utility had previously announced suspension of all utility disconnections through April 15. Citizens is waiving deposits, late fees and reconnection fees during this period as well.
It may take some time to turn services back on, but Citizens employees will work as safely and quickly as possible. For the safety of our customers and employees, Citizens asks that customers not approach our employees while they are performing this work. We request that customers follow social distancing recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that call for maintaining a 6-foot distance between people.
Citizens urges customers to utilize the various self-service functions available on its website at www.CitizensEnergyGroup.com, given the expected increase in call volume to its Contact Center. Citizens also encourages anyone who would like to help provide financial assistance to customers in need to donate via Warm Heart Warm Home.
“We appreciate the patience of our customers as we process these reconnect orders. Citizens stands ready to continue providing safe, reliable utility service to the community as it endures the hardships of the COVID-19 emergency,” said Harrison.
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 800,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities only for the benefit of customers and the community.
Dan Considine
(C) 317-519-1515
media@citizensenergygroup.com
