Twenty one U.S. utility regulators have mandated electric utilities suspend disconnections during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Energy and Policy Institute, which has forced 31 states as of Tuesday morning to issue a shelter-in-place notice that mandates residents stay at home unless leaving for necessities such as groceries.
The ensuing economic turmoil has led to a spike in unemployment and state regulators’ moves are intended to prevent mass residential power shutoffs due to customers being unable to pay their monthly bills.
