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The dog days of summer are not a good time to go without electricity.
Thousands of low-income residents across Pennsylvania are at risk of losing their power, gas, water, sewer or other utilities as providers continue cutting service to customers who had fallen behind on their bills during the pandemic.
For months, it was no big deal; although customers would still have to pay their balance eventually. The Public Utility Commission had suspended utility shutoffs as a way to protect people who lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But for the majority of people affected in the protected class those making less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines that changed when commissioners voted earlier this year to end the moratorium on April 1. Shutoffs began back in November for higher earners.
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90.5 WESA s The Confluence for Thursday, April 1, 2021
On today s program: The state’s utility regulator authorized shutoffs to low-income residents with overdue payment starting today, meaning 890,000 accounts are at risk of losing services; Duquesne University’s provost explains precautions as the school gears up for in-person classes in the fall; and a look at rising coronavirus cases, despite increasing vaccinations.
Utility shutoffs could resume for low-income customers
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A year ago, the state’s Public Utility Commission enacted a moratorium that would keep utilities running for low-income customers.
“This order applies to utilities that are regulated by the PUC. Locally that’s utilities like Duquesne Light, People’s Gas,” says WESA reporter Kate Giammarise. “It does not apply to utilities operated by municipal authorities.”