State Utility Shut-Off Moratorium Ends This Week

A state moratorium on shutting off utilities due to non-payment expires this week. Governor Roy Cooper says a new program is coming. 

Back in May, Governor Cooper extended Executive Order 142, which prohibited disconnection, stopped fee and penalty collection, and stretched repayment plans on services like natural gas, water, and electricity.

According to data from the North Carolina Utilities Commission, more than 1.4 million residential and business accounts have not been paid.

Details are scant, but the governor said at a press conference this week that he's working on a plan. 

“I know that many families are concerned about rent and utility payments coming due,” said Gov. Cooper. “So my administration is putting in place an effort to help people with their rent and utility bills. We're putting together a plan using funding from the CARES Act and we'll be announcing this soon.”

State legislators from both chambers turned away House Bill 1200, which included a fund that would have used $20 million in CARES money to create utility grants. It was also written to provide mortgage and rent assistance.

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