Electric and gas utility providers can disconnect services for customers who are behind on their payments without approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission after the winter disconnection protection period ended Tuesday.
From Nov. 15 through April 15, electric and gas utilities are prohibited from disconnecting customers without permission from the commission’s Consumer Assistance and Safety Division to ensure consumers have heat during the coldest months of the year.
Outside of those dates, utilities no longer need this approval but are still required to provide timely disconnection notices before cutting service, according to a statement from the utilities commission.
The commission encourages customers struggling to pay their bills to contact it for assistance.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.
