S. 3222: Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act

This bill, known as the Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act, aims to protect electric and natural gas consumers during times when the federal government is temporarily unable to fund its operations, known as a government shutdown. Specifically, it proposes a temporary moratorium on utility disconnections for those utilities that provide electric energy or natural gas.

Key Provisions

The bill states that during a government shutdown, the following measures should be enforced for consumers of electric and natural gas services:

• No service termination: Consumers should not have their electricity or gas service cut off due to an inability to pay.
• Safe reconnection efforts: Utilities must make reasonable efforts to reconnect consumers who have lost their service.
• No reconnection fees: Consumers should not incur any charges for having their service restored.
• Waiving late fees: Late fees or penalties related to utility bills should not be applied during this period.
• No increased costs: There should be no increases in the cost of service for consumers during a government shutdown.

Amendments to Existing Laws

The bill also proposes amendments to existing regulations concerning the termination of electric service. Specifically, it modifies the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to ensure that no electric service can be terminated during the period in which the government is shut down.

Cost Recovery for Utilities

An important aspect of the bill is that it outlines how electric utilities can recover certain costs incurred to comply with the moratorium. Utilities cannot bill consumers retroactively for costs they incurred to comply with this moratorium. Still, state regulatory authorities can create alternative measures for cost recovery if certain criteria are met, which include:

• The costs being significant.
• The costs being prudently incurred.
• The costs not being recoverable through other means.

Objectives of the Legislation

The primary objective of this bill is to ensure that vulnerable consumers do not face the loss of essential utility services during government shutdowns, periods when many individuals may be facing economic strain due to loss of income. The legislation seeks to provide stability and protection in heightened times of financial uncertainty.

Relevant Companies

None found.