Several American utilities halt shut-offs during coronavirus crisis
Corporate reactions to the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States have sparked a flood of actions, emails, and policy updates throughout the country, and utilities are no exception, with many pledging to forego service disconnections until the end of the crisis.
Many have also extended this pledge to late fee charges. Others are doing their best to guarantee their customers with contact details and round-the-clock numbers to take in concerns.
PECO, Pennsylvania’s largest electric and natural gas utility, has pledged to suspend disconnections and late payment charges until at least May 1, while reminding customers of its bill assistance resources and energy assistance programs as options for help during times of financial hardship. Payment options are being offered, from the averaging of 12 months of billing to help customers manage monthly energy bills, to flexible payment arrangements tailored to individual accounts.
“We are committed to helping every customer through difficult times, and we know there will be many challenges associated with this pandemic,” PECO President and CEO Mike Innocenzo said. “We are taking important steps to support our customers and communities throughout this time of uncertainty. PECO remains committed to delivering safe and reliable electric and natural gas service to our customers in the communities we serve.”
Southern California Edison (SCE) is initiating a slew of similar measures, including donating $1 million to community-based organizations to help citizens hit economically by quarantines, illnesses, or school closures. Many of the utility’s workers have gone remote, initiating a broad telework campaign and new travel restrictions, enhanced visitor screenings, and increased cleaning and disinfecting measures on company grounds.
“We know this is a difficult time for our communities, and we want SCE’s customers and employees to know we are here for them,” Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, said. “While SCE continues taking actions to maintain operations and provide reliable electric service to its 15 million customers, we also want to do our part to support communities in these challenging times.”
From Virginia’s Dominion Energy to Georgia Power, Illinois’ ComEd, and Florida’s Tampa Electric, utilities have similarly moved to protect the worst off during the crisis and guarantee service. The times for these vary, though all tack on an “at least” clause to their pledges, meaning that if the crisis continues, such services are likely to, as well. While some have had to couple this with the reduction of non-essential customer contact, such as Tampa Energy’s energy audits, these organizations are working relieve economic pressure that is rippling throughout the country.
“We make every effort to empower customers who face circumstances that make it hard to cover their energy expenses,” ComEd CEO Joe Dominguez said. “The last thing we want our customers and communities to worry about in the current situation is whether they will be disconnected. We are coordinating with state, city, and county officials and are here for our customers and our nonprofit community partners, and we will consider additional ways to support them as necessary.”
